Watery eyes

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

External and internal eye anatomy

Overview

Treatment

Watery eyes

Definition:

Tears are necessary for the normal lubrication of the eye and to wash away particles and foreign bodies. Excessive tear production or improper drainage of the tear duct results in watery eyes.

Alternative Names:

Epiphora; Tearing - increased

Considerations:

Irritation, infection, and inward-growing eyelashes can cause watery eyes. An infection or blockage of the tear duct can also cause excessive watering of the eyes when tears do not drain normally through the nose.

Increased tearing sometimes accompanies yawning, vomiting, laughing, and eyestrain.

Oddly enough, one of the most common causes of excess tearing is dry eyes. Drying causes the eyes to become uncomfortable which stimulates the body to produce too many tears. One of the main evaluations for tearing, is to check if the eyes are too dry!

Common Causes:

dry eyes
clogged tear duct
environmental irritants, including smog or chemicals in the air, exposure to hot wind, strong light, blowing dust, or airborne allergens
blepharitis -- dandruff like substance on the eyelids that disrupts tears
conjunctivitis (often accompanied by itching or redness)
foreign bodies and abrasions
allergy to mold, dander, dust
eyelid turning inward or outward

Review Date: 11/14/2005
Reviewed By: Edward B. Feinberg, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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