When a baby’s eyes appear watery, it can understandably cause concern for parents. This symptom is often a temporary and harmless occurrence in infants, yet it can also signal an underlying issue that requires attention. Tears play a significant role in maintaining eye health by providing nutrients, preventing dryness, and helping to ward off infections. An excess of tears can indicate that the tear drainage system is not functioning as it should or that the eye is reacting to an irritant.
Common Reasons for Watery Eyes
A frequent cause of watery eyes in babies is a blocked tear duct, medically termed nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Tears are produced in glands above the eye and normally drain through tiny openings into a duct leading to the nose. In many newborns, this duct is not fully open at birth, often due to a persistent membrane. This condition affects 5% to 20% of infants and typically resolves on its own, with about 90% of cases clearing by one year of age. If the duct remains blocked, tears accumulate, overflowing onto the cheek, sometimes with crusting or a pus-like discharge.
Environmental factors can also prompt excessive tearing as the eye’s natural response to irritation. Exposure to dust, smoke, strong winds, or pet dander can cause the eyes to water as the body attempts to flush out these foreign particles. Removing the irritant typically resolves the watering.
Allergies can cause watery eyes in babies, often alongside other symptoms. Allergic conjunctivitis may present with red, watery eyes that can also itch, burn, or appear puffy. Common allergens include pollen, dust, and pet dander. If a baby experiences sneezing, a runny nose, or nasal congestion with watery eyes, allergies might be a contributing factor.
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is an infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane lining the eyelid and covering the white part of the eyeball. It can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and discharge that can be clear, white, yellow, or green, along with watery eyes. Viral conjunctivitis often resolves without specific treatment, while bacterial forms may require antibiotic eye drops or ointment.
The common cold can also lead to watery eyes in infants. When a baby has a cold, watery eyes can occur alongside a runny or stuffy nose and sneezing. Nasal congestion associated with a cold can sometimes affect the tear ducts, leading to temporary overflow of tears.
Less Common or Serious Causes
Less frequent but serious conditions causing watery eyes in babies warrant closer examination. A foreign object lodged in the eye can cause significant irritation and increased tearing as the eye tries to dislodge it. Even small particles like a speck of dust or an eyelash can lead to discomfort and noticeable watering.
A corneal abrasion, which is a scratch or injury to the clear, dome-shaped surface covering the front of the eye, can also cause watery eyes. This injury can result from a toy, a fingernail, or other objects coming into contact with the eye. Symptoms include eye pain, tearing, sensitivity to light, and excessive blinking.
Infantile glaucoma is a rare but serious condition that can present with excessive tearing. This condition involves increased pressure within the eye, which can damage the optic nerve. Other signs might include light sensitivity (photophobia) and clouding of the cornea.
Other, less common eye infections beyond typical conjunctivitis can also cause watery eyes. These might involve deeper structures of the eye or be more persistent, leading to symptoms like inflammation or discharge that do not clear up easily. Conditions such as keratitis (an infection of the cornea) or a corneal ulcer (an open sore on the eye) may also present with watery eyes.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Seek medical consultation if a baby’s watery eyes are accompanied by specific symptoms. Persistent symptoms that do not improve or worsen over time, particularly after a week, should prompt a visit to a healthcare provider.
Seek medical attention for these symptoms:
Fever
Significant redness or swelling around the eye
Green or yellow pus-like discharge
Sensitivity to light
Changes in vision
Eye pain
Cloudy appearance of the eye
Suspicion of a foreign object in the eye
Symptoms resembling infantile glaucoma or corneal abrasion
Newborns with watery eyes should see a pediatrician immediately, as it could indicate a serious condition like bacterial pink eye requiring prompt treatment.
Home Care and Prevention Tips
For mild cases of watery eyes, especially those related to blocked tear ducts or minor irritation, home care strategies can provide comfort. Gently cleaning the eye to remove any discharge can be done using a warm, damp cloth or sterile gauze soaked in cooled, boiled water or saline solution. Always wipe from the inside corner of the eye (near the nose) outward, and use a fresh part of the cloth or a new cotton ball for each wipe to avoid spreading any potential infection.
For a blocked tear duct, a gentle massage technique can sometimes help. With clean hands, place an index finger against the side of the baby’s nose, in the corner of the eye with the blocked duct. Apply firm pressure and stroke downward three to five times. This massage, often recommended three times a day, aims to encourage the membrane at the end of the tear duct to open.
Minimizing exposure to irritants can help prevent watery eyes. Keeping the baby’s environment clean and smoke-free is important. Protecting the baby’s eyes from strong winds or bright sunlight with a hat or stroller shade can also reduce irritation.
Maintaining good hygiene is important, particularly handwashing, especially when handling the baby or during cold and flu season. This helps reduce the spread of germs that could lead to eye infections. If conjunctivitis is suspected, using separate towels for the baby can also help prevent infection transmission.