Why are my eyes watery and what to do about it

Tears are produced by Tears / U. S. National Library of Medicine in special glands located under the eyebrow. This fluid is constantly released: it cleans and moisturizes the eyes when a person blinks. Then, through the ducts in the inner corners, it is excreted through the nasolacrimal canal into the nasal cavity, and then into the pharynx.

Normally, the glands secrete B. M. Carlson. The Human Body: Linking Structure and Function 0.75 to 1.1 milliliters of tears daily. When there is too much fluid, lacrimation occurs. Most often this happens due to the experienced emotions. But eyes can water for other reasons, from harmless to urgent medical attention. Here are the most common ones.

1. Weather conditions

Bright sun, cold air, wind can Why Are My Eyes Watering? / Healthline causing reflex lacrimation. Other symptoms will not appear.

What to do

Nothing. Everything will return to normal when the eyes are not irritated by bright light or other weather factors.

2. Smoke or smog

Airborne chemicals sometimes irritate Watery eyes / U. S. National Library of Medicine eyes. At the same time, some people experience lacrimation, burning, discomfort.

What to do

You can rinse your eyes with clean water if the smoke is very corrosive. It's also worth trying to get out into the fresh air as soon as possible. But no special help is needed.

3. Bow

When you have to cut it, the vegetable gives off What Are Tears Made Of? 17 Facts About Tears That May Surprise You / Healthline A gas that is highly irritating to the mucous membrane of the eyes. As a result, they begin to water.

What to do

You need to rinse your eyes with running cool water. And so that onions no longer cause tears during cooking, use one of the tips Why Do Onions Make You Cry? / Healthline:

Keep your face as far away from the onion table as possible to prevent gas fumes from rising directly into your eyes.
Do not cut the vegetable close to the roots. This is where the most irritating chemical accumulates.
Use a sharp knife. It does not damage the cells of the onion so much, which means that less gas will be released.
Pre-soak the vegetable for 30 minutes in cold water. Or wet it while slicing.
Open a cold water tap nearby.
Wear safety goggles.
Switch on the hood in advance. This will help improve ventilation.

4. Strong odors

Too strong scent of perfume or bleach can also irritate the eyes and cause What Are Tears Made Of? 17 Facts About Tears That May Surprise You / Healthline lacrimation.

What to do

Ventilate the room. When the stimulus stops, the eyes will also stop watering.

5. Yawning

When a person yawns violently Watery eyes / U. S. National Library of Medicine, eyes can water from the strain.

What to do

Usually nothing. But sometimes too frequent and severe yawning is Yawning - excessive / U. S. National Library of Medicine a symptom of a dangerous disease. For example, brain tumors, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. If you constantly want to yawn, you should contact a therapist or neurologist and get tested.

6. Vomiting

She, too, can Watery eyes / U. S. National Library of Medicine cause reflex lacrimation.

What to do

It is necessary to look for and eliminate the cause of vomiting. Then the eyes will stop watering.

7. Allergy

It can occur at Hay fever / Mayo Clinic through contact with animal hair, pollen, dust mites, or Mold allergy / Mayo Clinic. Moreover, in addition to lacrimation, the following symptoms appear:

runny nose and nasal congestion;
redness of the eyes (conjunctivitis);
sneezing;
cough;
itchy nose;
swelling and blue discoloration of the skin under the eyes;
runny nasal discharge;
fatigue.

What to do

If the person knows they are allergic, they can take Hay fever / Mayo Clinic their usual antihistamine. Symptoms, including watery eyes, will disappear.

For those who have encountered such manifestations for the first time, it is better to consult a therapist. The doctor will select the appropriate medicine, and after the condition improves, he will refer you to the allergist. The specialist will suggest conducting an allergen test and find out what exactly makes your eyes water.

8. Injury to the eye or foreign body

Watery eyes / Mayo Clinic can begin to tear off reflexively - to clear the eyes if dust, sand or other debris gets into them. The same reaction occurs if, for example, you scratch the eye, poke it with a finger or a blunt object. As a rule, this is accompanied by discomfort, pain or burning sensation.

What to do

If small debris gets into the eye, experts from the reputable medical organization Mayo Clinic advise Foreign object in the eye: First aid / Mayo Clinic to wash your hands and give yourself first aid in one of the following ways:

Rinse eyes with a gentle stream of warm water.
Collect a full glass of warm water. Plunge your eye into it, tilting your head, and blink.
Take a shower and direct a stream of water to the forehead, while keeping the eyelid open.

Contact lens wearers should remove them before rinsing their eyes. Sometimes a foreign body sticks to the bottom edge of the lens.

To help another person, sit him in a lighted place, pull back the eyelid and carefully examine the affected organ. If the debris floats on the surface in a tear film, you can try to rinse it off with a pipette with clean water. Or just clean your eyes under a stream of warm water.

If this does not help or a foreign body sticks out of the eye, vision has deteriorated, or unpleasant symptoms persist for more than a day, you should contact an ophthalmologist.

In case of injury, rinsing is most likely not needed. But if the eye continues to hurt and watery for several hours, a doctor's examination is necessary.

9. Inflammation or infection

Due to viruses, bacteria, and chemicals, the eyes can become inflamed. This is a sign of one of the following conditions:

Conjunctivitis. This is an inflammation of the membrane that covers the protein and the inside of the eyelid. With this pathology, there is Pink eye (conjunctivitis) / Mayo Clinic itching, redness, a gritty feeling in the eye and often purulent discharge.
Blepharitis This is an inflammation of the eyelids. It develops in Blepharitis / Mayo Clinic when the sebaceous glands at the base of the eyelashes are blocked due to seborrheic dermatitis, microscopic mites or other causes. At the same time, the eyelids become swollen, itchy, flaky, the eyes turn red and the person is disturbed by the sensation of a foreign body. Occasionally, discharge collects on the eyelashes.
Keratitis. So called Keratitis / Mayo Clinic inflammation of the cornea of the eye. The reason is infection or injury. At the same time, the eyes turn red and sore, it is very difficult to open the eyelids. Photophobia or vision impairment may occur.
Trachoma. Specific eye inflammation caused by Trachoma / Mayo Clinic chlamydia. It is accompanied by redness, itching and pain, resulting from pus. And later, a person may completely lose sight.

What to do

It is worth contacting an ophthalmologist to prescribe a suitable treatment. These can be Pink eye (conjunctivitis) / Mayo Clinic drops or ointments with antibiotics, hormones and even immunostimulants. In severe cases, antibacterial drugs are used in tablets. Trachoma / Mayo Clinic surgery is also performed in the later stages of trachoma, and corneal transplantation for keratitis.

10. Blocked tear duct

Most often this occurs Blocked tear duct / Mayo Clinic in newborns, when the duct system is not yet developed, as well as in the elderly - due to age-related narrowing of the lacrimal canal. In other cases, blockage occurs with inflammation, eye injury, or a nearby tumor. In addition, drops from glaucoma, chemotherapy or radiation therapy can lead to blockage.

In this case, the eye not only watery, but also turns red, painful swelling occurs in the inner corner, mucus or pus is secreted, and vision becomes blurred. Sometimes one of the symptoms is persistent eye infections.

What to do

You need to see an ophthalmologist. Treatment depends on the cause of the Blocked tear duct / Mayo Clinic problem.

Antibiotics If a microbial infection is to blame, your doctor will prescribe drops or pills.
Eye corner massage. It is sometimes prescribed for young children and those who have blockages due to trauma.
Sounding. With a special tool, the medic will expand the duct and insert a probe into it to flush the canal.
Stenting. During the operation, a silicone tube is inserted into the duct to drain the tears. It will be removed after 3 months.
Balloon catheter. This is a tube that is inserted into a duct and then inflated to remove an obstruction in the duct.
Dacryocystorhinostomy. This is the name of the operation during which the Information for Patients on Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) / Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust create a new duct and restore the outflow of tears.

11. Dry eye syndrome

It occurs with Dry eyes / Mayo Clinic due to insufficient production or increased evaporation of tears. Therefore, to moisturize the eyes, the lacrimal glands begin to work more actively. In parallel, other symptoms appear. A person is worried about the sensation of a foreign body, dryness and burning sensation in the eyes, they turn red or become sensitive to light. Sometimes thin mucus is secreted, and vision becomes cloudy. In addition, there may be problems using contact lenses or driving in the dark.

Dry eye has many causes:

Decreased production of tears as a result of natural aging.
Some diseases, such as Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, thyroid disease.
Lack of vitamin A.
Taking antidepressants, antihistamines and contraceptives, hormones, drugs for high blood pressure, acne and Parkinson's disease.
Decreased sensitivity of the corneal nerve due to the use of contact lenses or after surgery.
Rare blinking when driving a car, working at a computer.
Posterior blepharitis is an inflammation of the inside of the eyelids.
Influence of wind, smoke or dry air.
Reaction to preservatives in eye drops.

What to do

With dry eye syndrome, an ophthalmologist should be consulted for appropriate treatment. Depending on the reason, it can be Dry eyes / Mayo Clinic:

Anti-inflammatory drops.
Antibiotics
Artificial tears.
Pills that stimulate the production of tears.
Drops from the patient's own blood serum.
Clogging of the lacrimal canals with removable silicone plugs or the cauterization method.
Special contact lenses for moisture retention.
Massage or light therapy of the area of the lacrimal glands, warm compresses.

12. Ectropion

This is the name of the condition in which the eyelid turns outward, so its inner part opens slightly and is easily irritated. This leads to dry eyes, watery eyes, and sensitivity to light. Ectropion is usually the Ectropion / Mayo Clinic in the lower eyelid and can occur for the following reasons:

Weakness of the facial muscles. This is often due to the aging of the body.
Facial nerve paralysis. With Bell's palsy and some tumors, facial nerves are affected, causing the muscles under the eyes to lose tone and sag along with the eyelid.
Scars on the face. After a burn or severe injury, deep scars sometimes form, pulling the eyelid down.
Neoplasms for the century. They can mechanically twist the skin under the eye.
Genetic defects. Ectropion often develops from birth with Down syndrome.

What to do

This is where Ectropion / Mayo Clinic only needs surgery. The doctor will remove the crease so that the eyelid fits snugly against the eye. And if the reason is the formation of a scar, then a skin transplant will be needed.

13. Entropion

This is a condition in which the eyelid is, on the contrary, wrapped in the Entropion / Mayo Clinic. As a result, the eyelashes rub against the whites of the eyes, causing discomfort, irritation, and the eyes watery at the same time. Entropion is congenital, but it can also result from injury, infection, inflammation, or muscle weakness due to aging.

What to do

See an ophthalmologist. Your doctor may suggest the following treatment options to the Entropion / Mayo Clinic:

Soft contact lenses for eye protection.
Botox injections. Helps relax the muscles of the lower eyelid.
The imposition of special eversion sutures.
Fixation of the eyelid with transparent medical tape.
An operation during which part of the eyelid skin or scars is removed.

14. Wegener's granulomatosis

This is a disease in which, for some unknown reason, the immune system is activated, the granulomatosis with polyangiitis / Mayo Clinic becomes inflamed in the eyes, sinuses, lungs and kidneys. In addition to lacrimation, the following symptoms occur:

purulent discharge from the nose;
cough, sometimes with bloody sputum;
shortness of breath or wheezing;
increased body temperature;
fatigue;
joint pain;
numbness of the limbs;
weight loss;
blood in the urine;
ulcers, bruises, skin rashes;
redness, burning, or pain in the eyes;
ear inflammation and hearing problems.

What to do

Visit an ophthalmologist. Although there is no effective remedy for granulomatosis, symptoms can be reduced. For this, Granulomatosis with polyangiitis / Mayo Clinic is prescribed corticosteroids and cytostatics that suppress the immune system.

15. Stevens-Johnson syndrome

It is a rare disease of the skin and mucous membranes, including the eyes, that occurs in the Stevens-Johnson syndrome / Mayo Clinic as a reaction to medication. Most often, the pathology is caused by over-the-counter pain relievers, antibiotics, anticonvulsants, or gout medications. Stevens-Johnson syndrome manifests itself as follows:

heat;
lacrimation;
sore throat;
fatigue;
heat in the eyes;
pain in the skin all over the body;
red or purple rash;
blisters on the skin, lining of the mouth, nose, eyes, or genitals;
peeling of the epidermis after blisters.

What to do

Call an ambulance immediately, especially if the child has symptoms. The patient is prescribed a Stevens-Johnson syndrome / Mayo Clinic medication to relieve symptoms. These are usually corticosteroids, pain relievers, and antibiotics if necessary. It is imperative to restore the balance of fluid and nutrients with the help of droppers, since a person loses a lot of water through the skin. Cooling compresses and dressings may be applied to wounds.