Do you suffer from watery eyes? Do they affect your vision, cause discomfort, or make it difficult for you to carry out everyday tasks?
Not to worry – there are several simple and effective methods that can help. So, keep on reading to find out, how to get rid of watery eyes!
What Are Watery Eyes?
Watery eyes, also known as epiphora, occur when your eyes tear up persistently or excessively. This can be due to various reasons, ranging from environmental factors, eye infections, to certain medical conditions.
Watery eyes can clear up on their own or may need some form of treatment, depending on the cause. Don’t worry – we’re here to help you understand your watery eyes and guide you toward relief.
Firstly, let’s take a look at how watery eyes can happen. Your eyes are naturally moisturized by a combination of water, mucus, and oil, produced by your lacrimal glands.
When these glands have issues, your eyes might flush with water only, but without the mucus and oil, the moisture won’t stay, causing watery eyes.
Various factors can lead to watery eyes, such as environmental irritants like smoke or air pollution, eye injuries, or scratched corneas.
Infections like pink eye (conjunctivitis) or sinus infections (sinusitis) can also result in watery eyes.
Certain medical conditions, like allergies or dry eye syndrome, could be culprits behind your watery eyes.
You may wonder when you should see a doctor for watery eyes. If the watery eyes persist, and you can’t identify any specific cause, like allergies or a foreign object, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional.
They can help determine if your watery eyes are due to an underlying issue, such as an eye infection or a more serious condition that requires attention.
Common Causes Of Watery Eyes
There are various reasons that can cause watery eyes. In this section, we’ll discuss some common causes and provide information on how to address them.
Seasonal Allergies
Allergies can cause your eyes to water, especially during specific times of the year. Pollen, dust, and pet dander are common allergy triggers.
Allergic conjunctivitis can result in itchy, red, and watery eyes. To protect your eyes from irritation caused by allergens, try using over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops or oral medications, and keep your living environment clean from dust and allergens.
Overproduction Of Tears
Sometimes, the glands that produce tears may create more than necessary, resulting in excessive tear production.
This can be due to irritation or an underlying health condition. If the overproduction of tears is causing discomfort, consult your eye specialist to find the best treatment for your condition.
Infection And Illness
Infections such as pink eye (conjunctivitis) or illnesses like the common cold can cause your eyes to water.
These conditions usually resolve on their own, but you should see a doctor if you experience persistent eye irritation or if the infection involves other symptoms such as severe pain, pus discharge, or blurry vision.
Blocked Tear Ducts
Blocked tear ducts are common in babies and can cause watery eyes. The tear duct’s function is to carry away tears, but if it’s blocked, the tears will accumulate and overflow.
If you suspect a blocked tear duct, gently massage the area and clean the eye with a soft, warm cloth. In case of persistent blockage, consult a doctor.
Eye Injury
Trauma to the eye, such as a scratched cornea or foreign particles like dust, can cause excessive watering as your body tries to protect and lubricate the eye surface.
If you’re dealing with an eye injury, immediately rinse the eye with clean water and avoid rubbing it. Seek medical attention if the discomfort persists or if your vision is affected.
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal fluctuations, particularly during pregnancy, can lead to watery eyes. In most cases, the condition improves after the hormonal levels stabilize.
However, consult your eye doctor if the symptoms become severe or persist for an extended period.
Dry Eyes
Ironically, dry eyes can also cause watery eyes. When your eyes lack moisture, they may overcompensate by producing too many tears, leading to excessive watering.
Using lubricating eye drops or artificial tears can help moisturize your eyes and alleviate the symptoms.
Environmental Factors
Bright light, smog, or air pollution can cause watery eyes. To prevent eye irritation from environmental factors, wear sunglasses and avoid prolonged exposure to irritants.
Maintaining good air quality indoors will help minimize your discomfort.
Medication Side Effects
Certain medications can cause watery eyes as a side effect. It’s essential to discuss any concerns about medication-induced watery eyes with your doctor.
They may change the dose, switch to another medication, or recommend a separate treatment to alleviate the symptoms.
How To Get Rid Of Watery Eyes
Watery eyes can be quite bothersome and may interfere with your daily activities. There are several ways to address this issue, and it’s essential to determine the underlying cause to find the most effective treatment.
Here are a few methods to help you get rid of watery eyes.
If you suspect there’s a foreign object in your eye, flush your eye gently with lukewarm water. You can do this by using a running sink tap, a gentle stream of water in the shower, or an eyewash station. This can help remove any debris and alleviate the irritation causing your eye to water.
If dry eye syndrome is causing your watery eyes, your doctor may prescribe artificial tears or lubricating eye drops for you.
These can help keep your eyes moist and reduce excessive tearing. Remember to use them as directed by your doctor to achieve the best results.
Sometimes, watery eyes result from oil gland blockages, which can be treated by cleaning along the lash line with eyelid cleanser or watered-down baby shampoo.
This practice helps unblock oil gland openings, reducing symptoms related to tear production imbalances.
In case you’re dealing with a stye, a warm compress applied to the affected eye several times daily can help alleviate the discomfort.
The warmth from the compress will not only soothe your eye but also promote the healing process, ultimately addressing the watery eye issue.
Lastly, it’s essential to see a doctor if your watery eyes persist or are accompanied by other symptoms such as pain, redness, or vision changes.
Your doctor will be able to provide a proper diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment options suited to your specific condition.
Home Remedies For Watery Eyes
Are your eyes watery and causing discomfort? Don’t worry! There are plenty of home remedies that can help to alleviate watery eyes.
1. Warm compress: Gently applying a warm compress to your affected eye can offer relief. This can help to unblock any congestion in the tear duct and facilitate drainage of excess tears. Simply soak a soft cloth in warm water, wring out the excess water, and place it on your closed eye for a few minutes. Repeat as necessary throughout the day.
2. Eye care: Practicing good eye hygiene is essential for preventing infections that might cause watery eyes. Always wash your hands before touching your eyes and remove any makeup before going to bed.
3. Artificial tears: Over-the-counter eye drops or artificial tears can provide temporary relief for watery eyes. These products help to keep your eyes lubricated and can reduce excess tear production. Follow packaging instructions for usage information.
4. Gentle massage: Sometimes, the cause of watery eyes is blocked oil glands, which affect tear production. Gently massaging the corner of your eyes with clean fingers can help to stimulate the meibomian glands and encourage tears to flow more freely.
5. Avoid rubbing: It might be tempting to rub your eyes when they are watery, but resist that urge. Rubbing can cause irritation and may introduce bacteria or other contaminants into your eye.
How To Stop Watery Eyes When Wearing Makeup
Wearing makeup can be a fun way to express yourself, but when you have watery eyes, it can become a bit frustrating. Here’s how to stop watery eyes when wearing makeup!
First and foremost, it is essential to identify why your eyes are watering in the first place. Factors such as allergies, irritants, and weather changes may cause teary eyes.
Once you’ve determined the cause, you can implement the most appropriate solutions.
When it comes to choosing the perfect makeup, make sure to use products that don’t contain allergens.
Check the ingredients list and avoid common allergens like parabens, sulfates, petroleum-based ingredients, or silicones. This will greatly reduce the chances of your eyes reacting to the makeup.
Another tip is to use eye drops before applying your makeup. Using over-the-counter artificial tears can add more liquid to your eye and flush out any irritants bothering you.
This helps create a smooth surface for your makeup application and reduce the chances of your eyes watering.
When applying makeup near your eyes, be cautious and make sure to use products specifically designed for that area.
Avoid using items like lipstick as eyeshadow, as it can spread bacteria and potentially cause eye infections. Stick to the correct makeup products for the right areas to ensure the safety and comfort of your eyes.
If you have spring or summer allergies causing discomfort around your eyes, seek advice from your eye doctor.
They can recommend the best oil-based lubricant over the counter to provide treatment, easing issues like itching, irritation, redness, and swelling, to stop watering from happening.
Can Eye Drops Stop Your Eyes From Watering?
Eye drops can be a helpful solution to stop your watery eyes, as they often address some of the underlying causes that lead to excessive tearing.
Over-the-counter eye drops are available, which can provide relief to your irritated eyes, depending on the cause.
However, it is always a good idea to consult with your eye care specialist before using any eye drops, as they can provide guidance on the most suitable option for your particular needs.
If you’re experiencing watery eyes due to dry eye syndrome, or a similar eye problem, artificial tears can be an effective way to alleviate your discomfort.
These eye drops work by lubricating the eye surface and help to hydrate your cornea, which in turn can reduce excessive tearing.
On the other hand, watery eyes caused by allergies may be better treated using over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops.
These drops help to reduce inflammation and can provide relief from watering due to allergies.
If there are irritants in your eyes, like debris or foreign objects, your watery eyes may improve after using a saline solution.
A gentle saline eye drop can help wash away any irritants on the eye surface, which may be contributing to the watering problem.
Sometimes, a watering eyes condition can also result from blocked tear ducts, which makes your eyes water up – or maybe you have something in your eye?
In such cases, eye drops alone may not resolve the issue, and you may need to seek your eye care specialist’s advice, after a serious eye exam, on treating the root cause.
Summary
Watery eyes, also known as epiphora, can be caused by a variety of factors such as allergies, infection, dry eye syndrome, or blocked tear ducts.
The underlying cause needs to be identified to determine the most effective treatment for watery eyes. Fortunately, there are several ways you can address watery eyes that don’t involve medications.
Home remedies like warm compresses and gentle massage techniques along with good eye hygiene practices can help soothe irritation and reduce symptoms associated with watery eyes.
It’s essential to practice caution when dealing with any kind of irritation around the eyes – never rub your eyes or use non-eye safe makeup products on that area
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