Excessive tearing, also known as epiphora, occurs when the eyes produce more tears than the tear drainage system can handle, or when the drainage system is impaired. While tear production is a natural function for eye health, persistent overflow can indicate an underlying issue. This article explores the reasons behind watery eyes and outlines strategies for managing this common condition.
Understanding Why Eyes Tear Excessively
The eye’s surface is constantly lubricated by tears, a complex mixture produced by the lacrimal glands. These tears spread across the eye with each blink, then drain through small openings called puncta, located in the inner corner of the eyelids, into the tear ducts and eventually into the nasal cavity. Excessive tearing happens when this delicate balance of production and drainage is disrupted.
One common cause is dry eye syndrome, which paradoxically leads to excessive tearing. When the eyes are dry, they signal the brain to produce more tears, resulting in a flood of watery, reflex tears the drainage system cannot efficiently handle. This type of tearing is a response to irritation from insufficient lubrication.
Environmental irritants also frequently trigger tear production. Exposure to wind, smoke, dust, or strong odors can stimulate the lacrimal glands to produce a protective wash of tears. Allergens, such as pollen or pet dander, can cause allergic conjunctivitis, leading to itchy, red, and watery eyes as the body attempts to flush out irritants.
Infections, like bacterial or viral conjunctivitis (pink eye), inflame the conjunctiva. This inflammation often results in increased tear production, along with redness and discharge. Blocked tear ducts present a physical obstruction to tear drainage, causing tears to spill over the eyelids. This blockage can occur at any point along the tear drainage pathway.
Eye strain from prolonged focus on screens or reading can reduce blinking frequency, leading to dry spots on the eye’s surface. This can prompt reflex tearing as the eyes try to re-lubricate themselves, contributing to a cycle of dryness and excessive watering. Certain medical conditions or medications can also impact tear production or drainage, leading to chronic epiphora.
Immediate Relief and Self-Care Measures
For immediate relief from excessive tearing, several self-care measures are effective. Over-the-counter artificial tears can supplement natural tear film, especially for paradoxical tearing due to dry eye. Preservative-free options are often recommended for frequent use to avoid irritation.
Applying a warm compress to the eyes can soothe irritation and help clear oil glands, improving tear film quality. Avoiding known irritants like smoke, excessive wind, or allergens can significantly reduce tear production. Wearing protective eyewear outdoors shields eyes from wind and dust.
Conscious blinking, where you fully close eyelids, helps spread tears evenly and stimulates tear production. This practice is beneficial during prolonged screen time, which often leads to reduced blinking rates. Maintaining adequate humidity in living and working spaces can prevent tear evaporation and reduce dryness-induced tearing.
When to Seek Professional Guidance
While self-care can alleviate symptoms, seek professional guidance if tearing persists. A medical evaluation is warranted if excessive tearing accompanies eye pain, increased redness, or vision changes like blurriness or light sensitivity. These symptoms indicate a serious underlying condition requiring prompt attention.
Any eye discharge, especially if thick, colored, or crusty, suggests an infection requiring prescription medication. A persistent foreign body sensation, even after flushing, necessitates a professional check for embedded objects or corneal abrasion. Tearing with other concerning symptoms, such as swelling around the eye, fever, or facial pain, also prompts a visit to an eye care professional.
A comprehensive eye examination identifies the cause of chronic tearing, from subtle dry eye to tear duct blockages. Early diagnosis allows for targeted treatment, preventing complications and providing lasting relief. Ignoring persistent symptoms can lead to worsening conditions.
Professional Treatments and Interventions
Once an eye care professional diagnoses the specific cause of excessive tearing, various professional treatments and interventions become available. For inflammatory conditions or infections, prescription eye drops, such as anti-inflammatory corticosteroids or antibiotics, may be prescribed to reduce swelling and eliminate infectious agents. These medications directly target the underlying cause of increased tear production or irritation.
For individuals with dry eye that leads to paradoxical tearing, punctal plugs can be inserted into the tear drainage openings (puncta) to slow down tear drainage, helping to keep more moisture on the eye’s surface. These small, biocompatible devices can be temporary or permanent and are a common intervention for chronic dry eye. This helps maintain a more stable tear film, reducing reflex tearing.
When a blocked tear duct is identified as the cause, several procedures can restore proper drainage. For infants, a gentle probing of the tear duct may be performed to open the blockage. In adults, or when blockages are more severe, a surgical procedure called dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) might be recommended. DCR creates a new pathway for tears to drain directly into the nasal cavity, bypassing the obstructed duct.
Excessive tearing may also be a symptom of an underlying systemic condition, such as autoimmune diseases or neurological disorders. In such cases, managing the systemic condition with appropriate medical treatment, often in collaboration with other specialists, can alleviate the eye symptoms. The choice of treatment always depends on the specific diagnosis and the individual’s overall eye health.