Tears are needed to protect the surface of the eye, help it recover quickly when injured, and provide comfort. Generally, tears will be released when we are in an emotional state, yawning, laughing, and when staring at a screen for too long. This will only happen for some time and is nothing to worry about. However, when the production is excessive, there may be other problems. Here's the explanation.

1. Excessive Tear Production

Watery eyes can occur when our eyes are trying to flush out the irritant, either in one or both eyes. It is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as inflammation, redness, itching, pain, and blurred vision. Some forms of irritants that can cause overproduction include:

• Exposure to smoke, wind, cold temperatures

• Conjunctivitis (viral or bacterial)

• Injury (scratches, small pebbles or dirt ingress)

• Trichiasis (ingrown eyelashes due to ectropion, which is when the lower eyelid relaxes and folds outwards)

2. Dry Eyes

On the eyelids, there are oil glands (meibomian glands) that prevent the water in our tears from evaporating. When these glands are not functioning properly, not enough oil is produced, resulting in dry eyes. Besides meibomian gland dysfunction, rheumatoid arthritis and over-the-counter allergy medications can also cause them to become dry. 

When the eyes are dry, their water production increases

3. Blockage of the Tear Ducts

The tear ducts develop with age. Hence, babies usually experience watery eyes for a few weeks. However, the nasolacrimal duct (the duct that drains tears into the nose) may become blocked in one or both eyes. If the duct is blocked, water will accumulate in the tear sac. 

When the fluid stagnates, the risk of infection increases, and our nerves produce sticky fluid, worsening the condition. This condition can be caused by injury, infection, aging, and rarely by tumors. Often, this blockage is accompanied by other symptoms such as blurred vision, swelling, crusting of the eyelids, and redness.

4. Allergies

Allergies and colds can cause watery eyes. It can be caused by specific allergens in the house or neighborhood, such as pollen, dust, and even pets like dogs and cats. This cause of watery eyes can be prevented by avoiding these specific triggers.

5. Bell's Palsy

Bell's palsy occurs when half of the face experiences nerve paralysis. One of the consequences is that it disrupts the blinking process. Blinking helps tears to spread throughout the eye area. When the lids are unable to close properly, the risk of dryness automatically increases. In the end, the eyes water.

Treatment

Actually, without seeing a doctor, we can treat watery eyes independently at home. For example, by using eye drops, applying warm compresses to the affected nerves, using clean tissues to remove dirt, and of course resting the nerves from the screen. However, if the symptoms do not go away or worsen, seek medical attention.

Watery eyes can be treated by addressing the underlying cause, the severity of the condition, and the presence or absence of other accompanying conditions. If the case is mild, then the doctor will generally just ask the patient to wait until the symptoms disappear. However, if it gets worse, then additional treatment is usually required, such as:

• Irritation: flushing (viral conjunctivitis) and antibiotics (bacterial conjunctivitis)
• Trichiasis: removal of eyelashes from the affected eye
• Ectropion: surgery to tighten the tendons that hold the eyelids together
• Blocked duct: surgery to create a new duct, called dacryocystorhinostomy

Try to treat with eye drops first

So, there are several causes of watery eyes, namely irritation, dry eyes, blocked ducts, allergies, and bell's palsy. Self-treatment can be done with eye drops, warm compresses, using tissues, and resting the eyes. However, if the problem cannot be treated on your own, then see a doctor.

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