A watering eye can be caused by a variety of reasons. There are a number of diseases that are manifested by eye watering, they can also be caused by irritation and allergies. Learn the most common causes of watery eyes!

Watering eyes , or excessive production of tears by the lacrimal glands, is a condition with various causes.

Watering of the eyes is usually a symptom of an allergic disease that causes excessive production of tears, but it can also be caused by disorders that lead to obstruction of the nasolacrimal ducts and conditions that worsen drainage even though the tube is not blocked.

It should be noted that obstruction of the outflow of tears is a very serious condition, as it can lead to stagnation and infection. In turn, recurrent lacrimal sac infections may expand over time, leading to infection of the orbital tissues.

Watering eyes: what is the function of tears?

Tears are produced in the lacrimal glands and run through the upper and lower tear point into the tubules and then into the lacrimal sac and nasopharynx.

Their function is to moisturize the eyeball, flush out impurities and protect against infections.

They are normally unnoticeable, but if they are secreted too much, you may feel the conjunctival sac overflow with tears (which usually indicates dry eyes) or tears running down your cheeks (possibly a nasolacrimal obstruction).

Watering eyes: a disorder causing excessive tearing

1. Dry eyes

Dry eyes Usually causes reflex tearing in response to dry eye surfaces. Excess tear production is usually exacerbated by cool or windy weather, exposure to tobacco smoke or dry heat. An accompanying symptom may be a periodic feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the eye.

2. Eye surface irritation

  • allergic or infectious conjunctivitis - allergic inflammation is manifested by burning, itching, photophobia, conjunctivitis and swelling of the entire eyelid, and the presence of watery, serous secretions in the conjunctival sac. Similarly, in an infectious form, with the difference that the secretion inthe conjunctival sac is purulent, purulent-serous or whitish;
  • inflammation of the edges of the eyelids is manifested by swelling and redness of the edge of the eyelids, itchy eye and the impression that there is a foreign body in the eye;
  • scratching, erosion (loss of epithelium), scratching or inflammation of the cornea - common symptoms such as severe eye pain, decreased sharpness of the image and its "blurring", photophobia and profuse eye congestion;
  • foreign body in the eye - the predominant symptom is pain accompanied by burning, tearing, redness of the eye, the need to blink constantly, and sometimes vision deterioration;
  • barley on the eye manifested by photophobia, swelling, pain and reddening of the eyelid margin, purulent discharge that comes out along the eyelashes or inside, under the eyelid;
  • primary angle-closure glaucoma - with an acute attack of glaucoma, there is severe pain in the eye and head around the forehead and temples. Accompanying symptoms are nausea and vomiting. In addition, visual acuity deteriorates (the sick person can see colored rings) and the eye becomes as hard as a stone;
  • uveitis in the front part of the eye - acute eye pain, redness of the eyeball and photophobia appear in acute disease. In the case of the chronic form of the disease, the symptoms are less severe;
  • irritating chemicals;
  • curl of eyelashes;
  • pinpoint damage due to irritation of the blink muscles, e.g. irritation of the facial nerve.

3. Nasal irritation or inflammation

  • allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is characterized by profuse, watery discharge from the nose, repeated sneezing, itchy nose, stuffy nose, headache and conjunctivitis with symptoms such as tearing, redness and itching of the eyes, as well as photophobia ;
  • rhinitis - if the eyes are watery with a runny nose, it means that the cause of the excessive production of tears is inflammation (usually viral) of the nasal mucosa. Then a characteristic watery-mucous discharge appears. In turn, with bacterial rhinitis, the discharge is mucopurulent, thick, yellow-green;
  • other upper respiratory tract infection.
According to an expertDr. Łukasz Kołodziejski, MD, specialist in eye diseases at the Warsaw Ophthalmology Center LIBERMEDIC

There are many factors that can cause your eyes to water. From irritation caused by various substances or cigarette smoke, to the problem with the outflow of tears - there are natural channels in the eyelids,which the excess tears drain into the nasal cavity. Tearing occurs as a result of an obstacle in these tubules - resulting, for example, from improper structure or obstruction by bacteria, pus, fungi.

Paradoxically, dry eye syndrome can also cause excessive tearing, because the surface of the cornea dries out as a result of this condition. Most often it is caused by the poor quality of the tear film, i.e. the layer that protects the surface of the cornea. The cornea therefore dries up quickly, irritation occurs, and as a result of this irritation, greater tear production begins. The tears do not bring relief as the tear film disappears.

Dry eye syndrome should not be underestimated, as long-term irritation of the cornea may break the eye's protective barrier, which results in greater susceptibility to infections. If one infection does occur, it is likely that you will develop an even more severe infection, such as a corneal ulcer. The ulceration can lead to scarring, which in turn causes permanent visual impairment.

Another possible cause of tearing is because of the wind. Patients often complain about them, but do not be afraid - it is a normal defense reaction of the body.

If tearing is bothersome and interferes with everyday functioning - you should check the cause of it with your doctor. It is worth taking care of improving the quality of the tear film - eye lubrication, eyelid hygiene.

Watering eyes near the lenses

In people who wear contact lenses, watery eyes are usually associated with burning, stinging, itching, pain and redness in the eyes, decreased visual acuity, photophobia and dry eyes.

The cause of this may be damage to the lens, which means that it must be replaced with a new one, as well as dirt or a foreign object on the lens. Then it should be thoroughly cleaned with a special liquid.

If the problem recurs after insertion, remove the lens immediately and consult your optician. Failure to do so may result in infection and, consequently, eye inflammation.

Watering eyes: disorders leading to obstruction of the nasolacrimal ducts

  • congenital obstruction of the nasolacrimal ducts - watery eyes appear as early as in the 2nd week of a child's life;
  • idiopathic senile stricture of the lacrimal duct;
  • inflammation of the lacrimal sac (manifested by pain in the nose, often swelling and redness, and a feeling of heat in the area of ​​the lacrimal sac. In addition, there is pressure tenderness and pus squeezing out when touching this area);
  • burns;
  • presence of a foreign bodyin the runoff (e.g. stones, often caused by subclinical actinomycosis);
  • infection, including nasolacritis (e.g. caused by staphylococcus aureus, actinomycetes, streptococci, shingles, herpes simplex virus, simple conjunctivitis, mononucleosis, human papillomavirus, roundworms, leprosy or tuberculosis);
  • inflammatory diseases - sarcoidosis, Wegener's granuloma;
  • damage (e.g. fracture of the naso-ethmoid bone, surgeries or endoscopic procedures within the nasal, frontal or orbital sinuses);
  • obstruction of the nasal opening without changes in the nasolacrimal system (e.g. in the course of upper respiratory tract infection, allergic rhinitis or sinusitis);
  • condition after radiotherapy;
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome (erythema multiforme);
  • cancers, e.g. primary tear sac tumors, benign papilloma, transitional epithelial carcinoma, fibrous histiocytoma, median granuloma (a rare form of T-cell lymphoma), and lymphoma.
Important

Watering eyes - when to see a doctor immediately?

Alarming symptoms are repeated but unexplainable episodes of tearing and the presence of a hard lump at or near nasolacrimal drainage structures.

watery eyes: disorders that worsen drainage even though the tube is not clogged

Changing the axial alignment of the tear layer with tear points, including :

  • eyelid eversion (ectropion) - manifested by the exposure of the eyelid and eyeball conjunctiva and the protrusion of the eyelid edge from the eyeball, which makes the eyeball red and the eye tears;
  • curl of the eyelid (entropion) - manifested by the crease of the eyelash towards the eyeball, which causes constant irritation of the conjunctiva and the cornea;

Watering eyes: medications

Medications can also contribute to the secretion of tears. They include, among others those used in chemotherapy. Tearing can also be caused by eye drops, especially ecothiopate iodide, adrenaline, pillocarpine.

References:The Merck manual. Clinical Symptoms: A Practical Guide to Diagnostics and Therapy , pp. ed. Porter R., Kaplan J., Homeier B., Wrocław 2010

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