Your eyes make tears all day long, even when you don’t notice. Every blink spreads a thin layer of moisture across the surface of your eye, which washes away dust and keeps your vision clear.
Sometimes your eyes make more tears than they can drain, or the tears can’t drain the way they should. Most watery eyes come from irritation, such as allergies or dryness, or from tears that can’t drain properly, and many cases clear up on their own.
If the watering keeps coming back, a comprehensive eye exam is worth it.
Common Causes of Watery Eyes
Optometrists call ongoing watery eyes epiphora, and most cases come down to your eyes making too many tears or not draining them well. Here are the most common causes.
Allergies and Irritants
Pollen, pet dander, dust, and smoke can trigger extra tears as your eyes try to flush out whatever’s bothering them. Vape clouds, cooking fumes, and cold wind can do the same.
With allergies, you’ll often notice a few other signs along with the watering:
- Itchy eyes
- Redness in the whites of your eyes
- Puffy eyelids
- A gritty, scratchy feeling
If itching comes with the watering, allergies are a likely cause. Allergy eye treatments like antihistamine drops can help calm the reaction.
Dry Eye
Dry eye can make your eyes water more often. When the surface of your eye gets too dry, it signals for more tears, and those reflex tears are mostly water. They spill over fast and don’t stay on your eye long enough to ease the dryness.
Along with watering, dry eye may cause:
- Stinging or burning
- A feeling that something’s stuck in your eye
- Blurry vision that clears when you blink
Long stretches on a screen, dry indoor air, and some medications can all contribute to dry eye, so look at your daily habits if your eyes feel dry and watery at the same time.
Blocked Tear Ducts and Eyelid Changes
Tears normally drain through tiny openings in the inner corners of your eyelids, then travel down a narrow duct into your nose. When that duct narrows or gets blocked, tears back up and spill onto your cheek.
In adults, a blocked tear duct can come from an injury near the eye or from tissue changes that happen with age. It often affects only one eye.
Your eyelids play a part too. As we get older, the lower lid can loosen and turn outward, which pulls the drainage opening away from the eye. Tears can’t reach the opening, so they run down your face instead.
Watery Eyes by Age: Kids, Adults, and Families
Watering can show up at any age, but it’s more common in babies and in adults over 50.
About 1 in 25 babies is born with a blocked tear duct. Their eyes may look wet all the time or have some crust in the corners. Many of these ducts open on their own, and your baby’s healthcare provider may show you a gentle massage that can help.
Adults tend to notice watering later in life, often alongside eyelid changes. Infections like pink eye can also cause watering, and they spread easily at home. Learning how to tell allergies from pink eye can help you decide whether to keep a family member home and book a visit.
How Watery Eyes Affect Night Driving
Extra tears sit on the front of your eye and scatter light, so your vision can get blurry on the road after dark. Headlights and streetlights may look like they have halos or starbursts around them.
Keep artificial tears in the car and blink a few times before you pull out. If tears make it hard to see, pull over somewhere safe and give your eyes a minute before you keep going.
How to Stop Watery Eyes at Home
Many mild cases settle down with a few at-home changes. Try these:
- Use artificial tears to rinse out irritants and keep the surface of your eyes moist
- Hold a warm, damp cloth over your closed eyelids for a few minutes to help the oil glands in your lids work better
- Wash your hands often and try not to rub your eyes
- Keep windows closed on high-pollen days
- Wash your bedding every week to cut down on dust and dander
When to See an Optometrist
Some watering needs a closer look from your optometrist. Book a visit if you notice any of these signs:
- Watering that lasts longer than 1 to 2 weeks
- Pain around your eye
- Redness or swelling near the inner corner of your eye
- Thick discharge or eyelids that stick together
During your exam, we can check how your tears drain and look closely at your eyelids and the surface of your eyes. Then we’ll talk through treatment options that fit what’s going on.
Find Out What’s Behind Your Watery Eyes
If tissues have become part of your daily routine, let’s figure out why. Our team at Calgary Optometry Centre can help you find the cause of your watery eyes and walk you through your options. Book an appointment and we’ll take a look.
