How to Stop Watery Eyes in Their Tracks

Your eyes have three types of tears: basal/lubricating, reflex, and emotional tears. Basal tears are made at a slow but consistent pace to moisturize the surface of the eye and act as a protective barrier, while reflex tears are produced quickly to respond to stimuli impacting the eye. When your eyes are watery, you experience an increased production of either basal tears or reflex tears. 

Cold weather, wind, and smoke are common environmental causes of watery eyes, as they can worsen dryness or lead to blocked tear ducts. Because tear production and drainage is an intricate process, when any part of the system is off balance, tear production can be disrupted. Poor eye drainage often stems from a blocked tear duct, which prevents tears from draining from your eyes. This can be caused by a narrow tear duct, chronic eye inflammation (like uveitis), swelling, eye infection, glaucoma, previous eye or sinus surgery, and previous cancer treatment (especially radiation therapy or chemotherapy). Even makeup can cause infections, styes, and irritation that can lead to watery eyes. 

The Symptoms of Watery Eyes

Aside from the obvious symptom (excess tears), other symptoms may pop up alongside your watery eyes. These can include: 

• Blurry vision 

• Discharge 

• Eyelid issues (such as skin being wiped away or the lower lid becoming loose from rubbing/wiping tears continually) 

• Discomfort/irritation 

• Light sensitivity 

Who’s Most Likely to Have Watery Eyes?

Excessive eye watering is most common in newborns and older people. Older individuals may experience eyelid malposition. The basic types, entropion (when the eyelid is turned in toward the eye) and ectropion (when the lower eyelid is turned outward from the eye), can lead to eye watering because the eyelid must be perfectly positioned to prevent it. Both can be treated with surgery. 

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction, or dacryostenosis, is a condition that causes excessive eye watering and discharge in 6% to 20% of newborns. It usually fixes itself as the ducts develop or with minimal treatment (including massage, eye drops, and topical antibiotics). By most kids' first birthdays, 90% of cases have resolved. 

How to Treat Watery Eyes

Because there are so many different causes of watery eyes, your treatment will vary. Your Clarkson Eyecare doctor may simply recommend you keep an eye on it for a bit to see if it gets better on its own. There are several at-home remedies you can try on your own to stop watery eyes. 

Over-the-Counter Eye Drops and Artificial Tears

Using over-the-counter or prescribed eye drops can help lubricate the eye and stop surface irritation from a variety of factors, including dry eye syndrome. These drops are available from most local pharmacies, but not all artificial tears are created equal. Look for preservative-free, single-use variants if you rely on drops more than four times a day, as repeated exposure to preservatives can actually worsen irritation. If you need something a bit stronger, your Clarkson Eyecare doctor may prescribe something for your watery eyes. 

Allergy Medicines

When pollen, pet dander, or dust mites cause your eyes to water, addressing the allergic response directly brings the fastest relief. Antihistamine eye drops or an oral antihistamine medication are best for allergy-induced tearing, but for severe flare-ups, your eye doctor may prescribe a short course of topical corticosteroid drops to calm inflammation.

A Cool Humidifier in the Winter

Winter weathercauses the air to dry out, evaporating tears before they can protect the cornea and leading to dry eyes. A cool indoor humidifier can help keep the air from getting dry and stop watery eyes caused by excessive dryness. Aim for a relative humidity of 40–50 percent; most units display readings on an integrated hygrometer. Empty, rinse, and dry the reservoir daily to prevent mold or bacteria and replace filters as directed. 

Warm Compresses

Consistent warmth loosens the oily secretions in the meibomian glands along the eyelid margin, allowing tears to form a more stable film and reducing reflex tearing. You can purchase an eye compress to help relieve a host of issues that can cause excessive eye watering, including dry eyes, blocked tear ducts, and even stye or chalazion. You can also make your own by wetting a washcloth with warm (not hot) water and applying it to your eyelids for five to 10 minutes. Skip the warm compress if the eyelid skin looks red or infected and always wash your hands before and after treatment.

When Should You See a Doctor for Watery Eyes?

If you experience a sudden drop in vision, pain around the eyes, or feel like something is stuck in your eye, you should seek medical assistance right away. These could be signs of larger eye health issues such as an eye injury or eye infection. Your eye doctor will be able to determine the cause of your watery eyes and, depending on your condition, may prescribe oral antibiotics or medicated eye drops to treat it.

What to Do if an Eyelash or Object Is in Your Eye

An eyelash, piece of dust, or other small particle can irritate the surface of your eye and trigger sudden watering. Your tears may flush the object out naturally, but you can take a few safe steps to help:

1. Wash your hands before touching the area around your eye. 

2. Remove your contact lenses (if you wear them). 

3. Blink several times to encourage your tears to wash away the particle. 

4. Rinse the eye with clean, lukewarm water or sterile saline solution. 

5. Avoid rubbing your eye, which could scratch the cornea or push the object farther under your eyelid. 

Do not use tweezers, cotton swabs or other tools to remove an object from your eye. You should also avoid trying to remove anything that appears embedded in the eye.  

Contact an eye doctor if rinsing does not remove the object, the feeling that something is in your eye continues, or you develop persistent redness, pain, light sensitivity, or blurred vision. Seek urgent medical care for a chemical exposure, a sharp or embedded object, an injury involving high-speed debris, severe pain, or any change in vision.

Excessive Tearing in One Eye vs. Both Eyes

Whether one or both eyes are watering can provide helpful clues about the possible cause, although an eye exam may be needed to determine what is happening.  

Tearing in one eye is more likely because of an issue affecting that eye specifically. This could be an eyelash or object in the eye, a scratch or irritation to the eye’s surface, a blocked tear duct, or localized inflammation. Occasional watering caused by a temporary irritant may improve after the eye is gently rinsed. However, make an appointment with an eye doctor if one eye waters repeatedly, the tearing does not improve or you also experience discharge, swelling, pain, or vision changes.

When both eyes are affected, the cause may be irritating the eyes more generally. This could be dry eye, seasonal or environmental allergies, wind, smoke, or cold air exposure, a cold, or a reaction to extended screen use. Occasional watering caused by a temporary irritant may improve after the eye is gently rinsed. However, make an appointment with an eye doctor if one eye waters repeatedly, the tearing does not improve or you also experience discharge, swelling, pain or vision changes.

What Clarkson Eyecare Doctors Look for During an Exam

If you visit Clarkson Eyecare for watery eyes, your doctor will look beyond the tearing itself to determine what may be causing the symptoms. Your exam may include:

• A Review of Your Symptoms: Your doctor may ask when the watering started, whether it affects one or both eyes, what makes it better or worse, and whether you also have itching, burning, discharge, pain, or blurred vision. 

• An Evaluation of the Eye’s Surface: The doctor will check for dryness, irritation, inflammation, scratches, or foreign objects that may be causing excess tearing. 

• A Tear Film Assessment: Because dry eye can trigger reflex tearing, your doctor may evaluate the quality and stability of your tears. 

• An Eyelid and Eyelash Examination: Eyelid position, blocked oil glands, or eyelashes growing toward the eye can interfere with comfort and tear drainage. 

• An Allergies or Infection Check: Redness, swelling, discharge, and other signs can help your doctor determine whether allergies, inflammation, or an infection may be contributing to your symptoms. 

• An Evaluation of Tear Drainage: If tears are not draining properly, your doctor may look for signs of a narrowed or blocked tear duct.  

• A Review of Contact Lenses, Medications, and Eye Care Products: Contact lens wear, certain medications, and some drops or cosmetics may contribute to irritation or dryness. 

Based on the findings, your doctor can recommend treatment for the underlying cause rather than simply trying to reduce the watering. Treatment may include lubricating eye drops, allergy management, eyelid care, changes to contact lens habits or further evaluation when a drainage problem or another eye condition is suspected.