Watery Eyes: Causes, Diagnosis and when to seek help
The watery eyes or tearing, medically known as epiphora, is a condition in which there is an overflow of tears, often without a clear explanation. The tears keep the front surface of the eye healthy and maintain clear vision, but too many tears can hinder vision.
Although epiphora can occur at any age, it is much more common in people under the age of one year old or beyond the age of sixty. It can affect one or both eyes.
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Get A Second OpinionWhat are the Causes of Watery Eyes?
- Something in your Eye: When a speck of dirt, dust, or an eyelash enters, the eyes produce more tears to expel it. Even things too small to see, like particles in smoke or chemicals in onions, trigger this reaction.
- Conjunctivitis: This is common in both children and adults. It can make one or both eyes look pink or red and feel itchy and gritty like sand. Viruses or bacterial infections of the eyes are the most common causes.
- Allergies: Itchy, watery eyes often come with a cough, runny nose, and other classic allergy symptoms. Sometimes colds can also cause watery eyes, they won't itch.
- Blocked Tear Duct: Normally, tears exit the tear glands above the eye, spread across the surface of the eyeball, and drain through ducts at the corner. But if the ducts become clogged, tears accumulate, and the eye becomes watery.
- Overproduction of Tears: Irritated eyes can produce more tears when the body tries to flush out the irritant. The following irritants can cause excessive tear production:
- Some chemicals, such as fumes and even onions
- An injury to the eye, such as a scratch or a bit of sand (a small pebble or a piece of dirt)
- Trichiasis, where the eyelashes grow inward
- Ectropion is when the lower eyelid is turned outward.
- Eyelash Problems: Have you ever had eyebrow hair that stubbornly grows at a strange angle? The same can happen with your eyelashes. If they grow inward instead of outward, they rub against the eye. It's called trichiasis, and it can occur after infections, injuries, or other problems.
- Blepharitis: This condition causes your eyelids to swell, usually near the lashes. Your eyes may burn and be watery, red, itchy, and crusty. Many things can cause it, such as
- Infections
- Rosacea
- Allergies
How is the Diagnosis of Watery Eyes Made?
- Epiphora is relatively easy to diagnose.
- The doctor will try to find out if you have any:
- Injury
- Infection
- Entropion ( caused by an eyelid that turns inward)
- Ectropion (eyelid that turns outward)
- Sometimes, the patient may be referred to an ophthalmologist, who will examine the eyes, possibly under anesthesia.
- A tube may be inserted into the narrow drainage channels inside the eye to see if they are blocked.
- The fluid can be inserted into a tear duct to see if it is coming out of the patient's nose.
- If it is blocked, a dye can be injected to find the exact location of the blockage.
- Extraction will be done using an X-ray image of the area, which will show up on the X-ray.
What are the Treatments Available for Watery Eyes?
Epiphora treatment depends on the severity of the problem and the cause. In mild cases, doctors may recommend watchful waiting or doing nothing and monitoring the patient's progress.
Different causes of epiphora have specific treatment options:
- Irritation: If the watery eye is caused by infectious conjunctivitis, the doctor may prefer to wait a week or so to see if the problem clears up without antibiotics.
- Trichiasis: An eyelash that grows inward or the doctor will remove some foreign object that has lodged in the eye.
- Ectropion: The eyelid turns outwards; the patient may need to undergo surgery in which the tendon that holds the outer eyelid in place is squeezed.
- Blocked tear ducts: Surgery can create a new channel from the lacrimal sac into the nose, allowing the tears to bypass the blocked part of the tear duct. This surgical procedure is called a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR).
Suppose the drainage channels, or canaliculi, inside the eye narrow but are not entirely blocked. In that case, the doctor may use a tube to widen them.
When the canaliculi are wholly blocked, an operation may be necessary.
When Should One Consider Visiting a Doctor for Watery Eyes?
Seek immediate medical attention if your eyes are watery with:
- Vision loss or visual disturbances
- Injured or scratched eye
- Chemicals in your eye
- Discharge or bleeding from your eye
- Red, irritated, swollen, or sore eyes
- Unexplained bruising around the eye
- Tenderness around the nose or sinuses
- Eye problems accompanied by a severe headache
- Watery eyes that don't get better on their own
It can clear up on their own. If the problem is due to dry eyes or eye irritation, using artificial tears or placing warm compresses on the eyes for several minutes may help.
If the watery eyes persist, make an appointment with your doctor. If necessary they can refer you to an eye doctor (ophthalmologist).
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Book an AppointmentWhat are the Home Remedies for Watery Eyes (Epiphora)?
Home remedies may provide relief for mild cases of watery eyes. Still, it's important to consult an eye doctor if symptoms persist or worsen.
Here are some home remedies that may help reduce watery eyes or Epiphora:
Saltwater
- Saltwater, or saline solution, is one of the most effective home remedies for eye infections.
- Saline solution is similar to tears, which is how the eye naturally cleans itself.
- Salt also has antimicrobial properties.
- Because of this, saline can effectively treat eye infections.
Teabags
- Putting cold tea bags on your eyes while they are closed can be a way to relax and unwind.
- Some say it can be an effective home treatment for eye infections.
Warm Compress
- Warm compresses may soothe styes by reducing the blockages that cause them if the eyes are sore, infected, or irritated.
- They can also help relieve dry eye symptoms.
Cold compress
- Like hot compresses, cold compresses do not exactly cure eye infections.
- They can alleviate the discomfort associated with certain eye diseases.
- Cold compresses can reduce swelling in the event of eye injuries and infections.
Honey
Some studies show positive implications for using honey eye drops to help treat eye infections.
