Why tearing eye

You should also avoid wearing any eye makeup for the time being and wear glasses instead of contact lenses. The eyelid itself may be a cause of excessive tearing. When the lid is malpositioned, it does not allow for proper tear drainage when blinking.

With age, the eyelid may become droopy and gap away from the eye. If the eyelid turns inward, this is known as entropion. This usually occurs when muscles and tendons stretch out with age and turn inward. Besides aging, other factors that can lead to eyelid malposition include:. Treatment for eyelid malposition issues can include:. If the eye becomes injured, this can also lead to tearing issues. A scratch on the protective cornea of the eye can lead to complaints of increased tearing.

Fortunately, this type of injury usually heals quickly but needs to be monitored since it can easily become infected. Also, chemical agents that accidentally get in the eye may cause excessive tearing. They should be immediately flushed from the eye with cool water to help minimize any damage. Some may be only minor irritants, while others can be far more serious.

After immediately flushing the eye, go to the emergency room to ensure there is no lasting damage. The medications you take may also be the cause of watery eyes. In many cases, such medications increase the risk of dry eye, which can then lead to excessive tearing.

These include:. In addition, there have been reports of the use of the agent docetaxel for treating breast cancer and other types of cancer as leading to teary eyes. This is particularly true at higher doses.

The good news is that in all cases, this was reversible and tended to be mild. Epiphora excessive tearing can occur due to a variety of causes. Colds, allergies, a blocked tear duct, infection, inflammation, injury, or dry eye syndrome may be the culprit. The treatment will depend on the underlying cause. In most cases, if you address the underlying issue, the epiphora will resolve. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

The University of Tennessee Medical Center. Flu, cold or allergies? Know your symptoms. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Common cold. In the case of excessive tear production, watery eyes can often be treated very simply, by stabilising the tear film with a number of interventions including warm compresses, or stronger IPL treatment.

Assessment in our dedicated ocular surface clinic can help direct appropriate treatment. Our bodies produce tears to keep our eyes lubricated, and to help remove any foreign bodies. But when the body produces too many tears, or tear drainage is affected, the result is excessively watery eyes.

While never harmful, watery eyes can be troublesome and irritating. Causes of Excessive Tearing One of two things often causes excessive tearing. Specifically, some of the causes of excessive tearing include: Allergies, such as hay fever Common colds Dry eyes Eye infections caused by bacteria, fungus or viruses, which include pink eye conjunctivitis Eyelid problems, such as eyelid inflammation or an eyelid that is turned in or out Infection or blockage of the tear duct An ingrown eyelash An irritant or foreign object in the eye, including contact lenses Excessive tearing can also be caused less commonly by other conditions, such as: Chronic sinusitis Eye injuries, including scratched cornea Other illnesses, such as rheumatoid arthritis, damage to a facial nerve or thyroid disorders Radiation therapy Surgery of the eye or nose When to See an Eye Doctor Excessive tearing is not always a sign of more serious medical problems.

These include: The use of artificial tears several times a day, as directed Taking over-the-counter medication for your allergies Placing warm compresses over your closed eyes for a few minutes If the excessive tearing does not stop, or if the eyes become more irritated, make an appointment with your ophthalmologist. If you develop any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention: Decreased vision Pain in or around the eyes Sensation of a foreign body in your eye These could be a sign of serious medical condition.

Claim Your Savings. Sometimes watering eyes can be caused by: an allergy or infection conjunctivitis blocked tear ducts the small tubes that tears drain into your eyelid drooping away from the eye ectropion or other eyelid problems dry eye syndrome — this can cause your eyes to produce too many tears Bell's palsy — a temporary weakness to one side of the face some medicines and cancer treatments Babies often have watering eyes because their tear ducts are small.

A pharmacist can help with watering eyes You can ask a pharmacist about: what you can do to treat watering eyes yourself — such as cleaning and protecting your eyes what you can buy to help — such as cleaning solutions, eyedrops or allergy medicines if you need to see an optician or GP Find a pharmacy.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:.