​Tearing​

Tearing is a healthy and normal function of the eyes as tears help to keep the eyes moist and also help clear off dust and debris. However, when you experience excessive tearing, it could be a sign of an underlying eye disorder, with tearing manifested as a symptom.

Tearing can occur in both children and adults. Often, tearing takes place because of blocked tear ducts. These ducts help drain away tears from our eyes into our nose through tiny openings. Blockage can be due to weak eyelid muscles, reduced blinking, infection or a ‘polyp’.  In babies, tear ducts are not completely functioning for the first few months. In older people, the eye lids’ skin sags over time and moves away from the eyeball, causing excessive tearing.

Other causes of tearing include:

• Allergies
  

• Viral infections (such as conjunctivitis)
  

• Eye injury
  

• Disorders of the eye lid or eye lash (such as blepharitis)
  

• Eye disorders
  

• Dry eyes
  

• Glaucoma, in which pressure builds up inside the eye
  

• Irritants in the environment, such as smoke, car fumes, or wind
  

• Nasal and sinus conditions
  

• Certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs
  

• Common cold
  

• Burns
  

• Exposure to some chemicals
  

• Disorders of the facial nerves 
  

• Thyroid disorders​

When to seek expert advise

Watery eyes usually clear up on their own, especially if caused by an irritant or allergy. However, if excessive tearing has been continuing for more than a week without signs of improvement, it's best to get it checked by your eye doctor.

If you have a feeling that there is grit or some foreign body in your eye, or if excessive tearing is accompanied with eye pain and reduced vision, you must seek immediate medical attention check if there is any other serious underlying disorder.

If excessive tearing caused by a blocked tear duct is not treated, the site could become infected, causing discomfort and irritation. That's why it's important to get expert advice from one of the ophthalmologists working for the Eye and ENT Service Line of The Aga Khan University Hospital to help provide relief from your symptoms.