Why My Eyes Are Watery?
Why are my eyes watery? Many people wonder why their eyes water at random.
You expect to be teary when you experience a stressful event or an unlikely animal friendship.
We’ll discuss some common causes below…. or you may just have an abnormal amount of Meibomian glands.
Meibomian glands release too much oil
If you suffer from watery eyes, your Meibomian glands may be malfunctioning.
You can treat this condition with warm compresses to release blocked oil glands.
Afterward, you can massage the eyelids by massaging them gently.
You can also use an eyelid scrub at night to remove debris that may be blocking your Meibomian glands.
Tears contain many different ingredients, including water, enzymes, proteins, and oils.
They also contain a special oil that is secreted by the meibomian glands, located near the eyelashes.
These glands are essential for keeping the eyes moisturized.
But sometimes they malfunction and produce too much or too little oil.
The result is watery eyes and dry eye syndrome.
Dry eye causes reflex tearing
When eyes are dry, they tend to produce more tears than they actually need.
The nervous system responds to this by sending a signal to the eye to produce more tears to make up for the lack of moisture.
These reflex tears are only water and do not provide the same protection against dirt, dust, and other debris that normal tears do.
They also do not coat the surface of the eye, so people with dry eyes often complain that they have watery eyes and excessive tearing.
When dry eye conditions occur, the cornea is too thin and evaporation causes the tear ducts to drain more tears than normal.
As a result, people with dry eyes will experience reflex tearing between bouts of frequent crying.
Those with dry eye symptoms can opt for treatment by a trained eye care professional.
Depending on the cause, treatment can include antibiotics or waiting until the symptoms go away on their own.
Ectropion causes watery eyes
A condition called ectropion causes the lower eyelid to droop inwards, preventing it from closing properly and draining the tears away.
Old tears cannot drain properly and will remain in the eye, leaving it irritated and prone to infection.
When tears do not drain properly, bacteria will build up on the eye’s surface.
In severe cases, the eye may become infected.
The symptoms of ectropion include watery eyes and redness that resemble mild eye pain.
The eyelashes may also develop a sticky coating.
Another condition that affects the eyelid is called entropion.
This happens when the eyelid turns inward and the lashes rub against the eye’s surface.
It is common in older people and can cause vision loss if it is left untreated.
While there is no cure for this eye condition, surgery can be an effective treatment.
Treatment options vary according to the severity of the condition and whether it can be permanently corrected or merely treated.
Conjunctivitis causes long-term tearing
If you suffer from long-term tearing, conjunctivitis may be the cause. Infectious conjunctivitis usually clears up on its own, but in some rare cases, it can turn chronic.
Treatment for viral conjunctivitis aims to alleviate symptoms, rather than eradicate the cause.
Treatment may involve applying artificial tears or cool compresses with a wet washcloth.
The doctor may prescribe medications, such as antibiotics and steroid eye drops.
Patients should also maintain proper hand hygiene, especially with their eyes and the rest of their bodies.
The symptoms of this infection vary and may be triggered by an irritant or an allergic reaction.
Although mild pinkeye usually clears on its own, some forms of conjunctivitis may cause permanent damage to the cornea.
Those triggered by chlamydia, gonorrhea, and certain strains of adenovirus may cause corneal scarring.
Treatment can help avoid long-term tearing or even vision loss.
Allergies can cause conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis is a common eye problem that can strike anyone at any age.
It is most common among young adults and people with a history of allergies.
While symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis may occur occasionally, they are often constant throughout the year.
While allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious, it is important to avoid contact with irritated or infected eyes. Symptoms may also worsen if you rub your eyes too hard.
Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by an allergic reaction to a particular substance.
These allergens affect your senses and can trigger the release of histamine, which triggers allergy symptoms. This inflammation can affect both eyes.
The treatment for allergic conjunctivitis varies according to the cause.
It can occur because of a chemical splash or foreign particles.
Symptoms usually last for a few hours or days.
