When watery eyes strike, they can become more than a minor annoyance. They can interfere with your daily activities and impact your quality of life. Whether triggered by allergies, environmental factors, or underlying health issues, excessive tearing can leave you feeling uncomfortable and frustrated. Understanding the causes and solutions is essential for regaining control and comfort. Below, we explain how to stop watery eyes and present a variety of effective tearing and watery eye treatment options so you can restore your clear sight and get back to life.
Understanding Watery Eyes
The production of tears is essential for protecting your eyes from debris and irritants. Unfortunately, your eyes can sometimes produce too many tears or develop blockages that cause your tears to drain improperly. Watery eyes can develop for several reasons:
- Serious eye infection
- Blockage
- Allergies
- Blepharitis
- Styes
- Chalazion
- Entropian
- Eye injury
- Environmental irritants
- Scratched corneas
- Dirt, debris, chemicals, or any foreign object that touches your eye for too long
When you experience watery eyes, treatment is not typically necessary. However, if the problem worsens or persists, you will likely benefit from seeking medical care for this issue. Your physician can diagnose watery eyes using X-rays or CT scans for non-invasive testing.
Watery eyes can affect anyone. In fact, most people experience this issue at some point in their lives. While this is a common issue, infants, toddlers, and adults over 50 are most likely to experience watery eyes.
Signs and Symptoms of Watery Eyes
The clearest, most obvious sign you may have watery eyes is obvious, eyes that water excessively. Still, depending on your specific condition, you may have other symptoms. Symptoms to look out for include:
- Eye pain
- Itchiness
- Red eye
- Cloudy or unclear vision
- Sinus headaches
- Tears running down your face
- Tears build up in your eyes when you’re not crying or laughing
If these symptoms do not clear up on their own, consult with a medical professional.
Practices for Stopping Watery Eyes
Lifestyle Adjustments
Prevention is always the first choice for avoiding medical complications. That being said, depending on the cause of your watery eyes, for example, if allergies or irritants in the air cause them, this may not be an option. In cases of watery eyes that can be prevented, consider:
- Wearing all proper protective equipment, including eye protection, when there is potential exposure to irritants.
- If possible, avoid allergy triggers.
- Seek treatment from experienced professionals.
Home Remedies for Immediate Relief
The effectiveness of treating watery eyes at home is going to rely heavily on the cause. Individuals who have been affected by watery eyes report that there are a few home methods that may offer some relief:
- Applying a warm compress to the eyelids
- Using a cool-mist humidifier.
- Lubricating eye drops
- Taking antihistamines
- Avoiding irritants
- Practice good eye hygiene
- Staying hydrated
Professional Treatments and Procedures
When home remedies and over-the-counter medications fail to treat your watery eyes, it may be time to seek professional help. Talking to an experienced surgeon about oculofacial plastic surgery to treat your watery eyes could solve your problem quickly and efficiently. Your doctor can help you determine the best treatment plan for your needs. Your surgeon may recommend:
- Medication
- Removal of foreign objects
- Clearing of blocked tear ducts
- Eyelid repair
If watery eyes are causing prolonged discomfort or unclear or blurred vision, it may be time to consult with an experienced oculofacial plastic surgeon in your area. These are not only frustrating issues but could present a safety risk as well.
Maintaining Eye Health
Maintaining eye health can be accomplished with a few simple lifestyle changes.
- Eat lots of dark leafy greens.
- Eat fish and other foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids.
- Eat orange-colored fruits and foods with a high concentration of vitamin A.
- Exercise.
- Protect your eyes from irritants and triggers.
Ditch Watery Eyes
Conquering watery eyes is a journey that requires patience and persistence. By identifying the root cause of your watery eyes, you can take targeted steps to find relief. If you want to treat your watery eyes, contact the team at Chicago Eye & Face today to schedule a consultation.
