subject: Why Are My Eyes Watering? [print this page] Why Are My Eyes Watering? Why Are My Eyes Watering?
It's the age-old question: why are my eyes watering? You're sitting in class, or perhaps behind the desk at work, and out of nowhere your eyes just start pouring water. Your friend and co-worker asks if you're alright, it looks like you're crying, and you smile and laugh and say "my eyes are just bothering me all of a sudden." So, why does it happen? What causes watery eyes and how can you decrease the problem?
Watery eyes occur when your body makes more tears than you lose through evaporation or drainage, according to the Mayo Clinic. Tears help to lubricate the eyeball, but when your body produces to many tears the tears overwhelm the drainage system, causing watery eyes.'
Watery eyes can occur for many reasons; though at the moment your eyes are watering it's not often clear why it's happening. However, if you take a moment to look back at all of the times you've experienced watery eyes, there was probably a good reason for it. The most common causes for watery eyes are responses to emotions, responses to cold or windy weather, and dust in the air. Allergies and infections can also be an underlying cause for watery eyes.
In adults, some of the more common causes of watery eyes include eyelash inflammation, also known as blepharitis, a blocked tear duct, the common cold, dry eyes, ectropion, entropion, a foreign object in the eye, hay fever, an infection, ingrown eyelash, irritation of the cornea, or pink eye. Some of the mentioned causes should be seen by a Gilbert eye doctor, but most of those causes for watery eyes will solve themselves. In children, watery eyes are often causes by a blocked or incompletely opened tear duct.
Some causes of watery eyes that absolutely should be checked out by your Gilbert eye doctor include: a blow to the eye, chronic sinusitis, glaucoma, floppy eyelid syndrome, granulamatosis, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidsosis, thyroid disorders, tumors, or sjorgren's syndrome.
In many cases, watery eyes will clear up on their own. As we all know, living here in the middle of a desert can mean more watery eye problems than perhaps other parts of the country. With all of the dust particles in the air during every season, watery eyes can be a problem for many people in Arizona. If you don't have time to schedule an appointment with your Gilbert eye doctor, the Mayo Clinic suggests using eye drops, or artificial tears, four to five times a day or place warm compresses over your eyes for several minutes.
If your watery eyes persist and become an annoyance that affects your every day routine, you should consider making an appointment with your Gilbert eye doctor to find a solution to the problem. The constant watery eyes could be a symptom of something worse. If you are having problems with reduced vision or pain around your eyes, make an appointment immediately.
