Tears keep the eyes lubricated, making it easier for you to track objects and flush out foreign objects that get into your eyes. Tears contain salt and water that kills infections and moistens the eyes with every blink. But when your eyes become excessively watery, it could be due to an underlying problem that might affect your comfort throughout the day.
Generally, when the tear glands produce excessive tears, these could overwhelm the tear duct and cause watery eyes.
What Causes Watery Eyes?
Here are some of the common reasons behind excessive tear production:
- Irritants – When dust or debris gets into your eye, it will cause your eye to water. This should stop once your eye has successfully gotten rid of the dirt.
- Dry eyes – This condition is the result when your body doesn’t make enough tears because they dry up too quickly or they don’t have the right balance of water, mucus and oils. Your eyes react to this condition by producing more tears, making your eyes watery.
- Pink eye – Conjunctivitis indicates a bacterial or viral infection. It makes the eyes look pink or red and feel itchy or gritty. Conjunctivitis due to a viral infection does not need any treatment, but you’ll need antibiotic eye drops if it’s caused by bacteria.
When Should You See a Doctor?
As a rule of thumb, you should visit your doctor if you have excessive or prolonged tearing. You should also look out for these other symptoms:
- Discharge or bleeding from the eye
- Red, irritated, swollen or painful eyes
- Tenderness round your nose or sinuses
- Eye issues accompanied by a severe headache
- Unexplained bruising around the eye
- Watery eyes that don’t improve on their own
Northern Virginia Doctors of Optometry offers eye examinations for patients of all ages. To schedule a consultation, call us at (703) 660-9494 (Alexandria), (703) 413-1400 (Crystal City), (703) 522-7676 (Clarendon), (703) 573-1200 (Falls Church) or (703) 467-9080 (Reston). You can also fill out this contact form.
