Why You Shouldn't Ignore Watery Eyes
You might not think much about your tears every day, but they serve an important job. Your tears lubricate — and even protect — your eyes.
As important as your tears are, there are times when you have too many. This is called epiphora — the official term for having watery eyes.
Watery eyes may be a minor annoyance, but they can signal underlying issues (like eye allergies) that need attention.
Dr. Debbie Simon, Dr. Emily Davis, and Dr. Romaya Ahmed explain why you shouldn’t ignore watery eyes and how we can help here at Eye Q Optique.
Common causes of watery eyes
Watery eyes aren’t a condition on its own. If your eyes are watery it’s a sign that something else is happening. Watery eyes can be related to:
Dry eye syndrome
Ironically, watery eyes can be a sign that you have dry eye syndrome, which may include symptoms such as:
Redness
Scratchy or gritty sensation
Burning sensation
Stringy mucus in your eyes
Sensitivity to light
Meibomianitis — a condition that occurs when your oil glands stop working properly and leave your eyes drier than normal — accounts for 20% of people with excessive tearing.
Allergies
Seasonal allergies often trigger excessive tearing due to irritation. Eye allergies include itchiness, redness, and excessive tearing, but you might also notice respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, or a runny nose.
Many different allergens can cause eye allergies, but grass, pollen, dust mites, and pet dander are some of the most common ones. An allergy test can confirm which allergens trigger your symptoms.
Blocked tear ducts
If your tears can’t drain properly, you may end up with watery eyes. This is sometimes called meibomian gland dysfunction.
Eye infections
Eye infections like conjunctivitis can irritate the eyes and increase tear production. With pink eye, for example, your body creates more tears as a reaction to the inflammation of your conjunctiva.
Eye infections can also contribute to pus, drainage, and a fever.
Irritants or foreign objects in your eye
Dust, smoke, or even an eyelash can cause temporary watery eyes. Your body’s natural reaction is to increase tear production to flush out the irritant.
However, if some item (like a shard of glass) is embedded deeper into your eye, your body still creates more tears, but you’ll need extra help removing that foreign object.
Why you shouldn’t ignore these symptoms
The longer you ignore watery eyes, the longer you’ll have these symptoms. Not only that — but delayed treatment may come with risks. For example, if you have a bacterial eye infection, you’ll need antibiotics to clear it up. Or, if foreign debris is the culprit, leaving it untreated could further damage your eye.
The bottom line: The sooner you reach out for help, the sooner you can get relief from your symptoms — and potentially avoid unwanted complications.
What to expect when you come to Eye Q Optique for watery eyes
Whether you visit us in our Buffalo Grove or Tri-Taylor and Near West Side neighborhoods of Chicago, Illinois, our first step is to pinpoint the source of your symptoms. Our team conducts a thorough examination, reviews your medical history, and notes your symptoms. You may need additional tests, like a tear test, to rule out or confirm dry eye syndrome.
Depending on the results of your examination, we may recommend:
Allergy treatments, including saline eye drops and antihistamines
Dry eye treatments such as eye drops or tear duct plugs
Medication to clear any eye infections
To get relief for watery eyes (or other pesky symptoms), call the Chicago-area location closest to you, or use our online system to book an appointment.