What Causes Watery Eyes? (2024)

Watery eyes, called epiphora, happen when eyes excessively tear or water when not crying. Common causes of watery eyes are allergies, a blocked tear duct, dry eye, and computer overuse. Watery eyes can happen at any age but are more common in older adults and newborns.

This article covers common causes of watery eyes and when watery eyes indicate dry eyes. It also discusses treatments for watery eyes, home remedies, and when to contact a healthcare provider.

What Causes Watery Eyes?

Watery eyes have many potential causes, including blocked tear ducts, reflex tearing, and tear overproduction. More information on each of these causes follows.

Blocked Tear Ducts

Your eyes have a passageway that carries tears from the eye surface and toward the nose. A blocked tear duct is a partial or full blockage within that passageway.

Having a blocked tear duct is common in newborns, affecting an estimated 20% of newborns. However, it usually resolves without treatment in four to six months. Other causes of blocked tear ducts include:

• An eye infection
• Injury
• Swelling
• A tumor

The main symptom of a blocked tear duct is more tearing. In newborns, the tears may appear thicker and more noticeable when they are 2 to 3 weeks old.

Although many blocked tear ducts resolve on their own in newborns, adults require treatment. In newborns, a pediatrician or an eye doctor, such as an ophthalmologist or optometrist, may recommend a special type of massage near the eye to help open the tear duct.

Reflex Tearing

Reflex tearing is what happens when your eyes get irritated by a certain trigger. These triggers include:

• Foreign bodies
• Onion fumes
• Smoke

Reflex tearing is different from emotional tearing, which your body makes in response to an emotion like feeling sad or very happy. Reflex tearing is also different from basal tears, which your eyes produce continuously to protect the dome-shaped front area of your eye called the cornea.

Tear Overproduction

Your eyes may make too many tears, or an overproduction of tears, for many reasons, including:

• Aging, which is also associated with a higher incidence of dry eye
• Blinking infrequently
• Blocked tear duct
• Computer screen or other screen overuse
• Dry eye
• Eye allergies
• Eye infection
• Eye scratch
• Physical responses and actions like laughing, vomiting, and yawning
  

The treatment for tear overproduction will depend on the cause. If the cause is not obvious, an eye doctor will perform an exam to determine what is causing tear overproduction. Although not all cases of tear overproduction require treatment, you should see an eye doctor if it occurs frequently.

When Are Watery Eyes a Sign of Dryness?

It may sound strange, but having watery eyes can actually be a sign of dry eye. That's because with dry eye, your eyes do not make enough tears or the tears that are made are of poor quality. This causes your eyes to produce more tears to lubricate the eyes, which leads to watery eyes.

If dry eye is the cause of your watery eyes, your other symptoms may include:

• Burning in the eyes
• Eye strain
• Redness
• Sensitivity to light
• Worsening of symptoms toward the end of the day

Are Watery Eyes Serious?

Although watery eyes are irritating, they usually are not serious. The cause of watery eyes ranges from minor irritants in the eye, such as an eyelash, to chronic problems, such as dry eye or allergies.

Although uncommon, watery eyes can be a sign of cancer. If cancer is the cause of your watery eyes, you will most likely have other symptoms, such as double vision, pain, or a change in vision.

How Are Watery Eyes Treated?

The treatment for watery eyes will depend on what is causing them, which is why it's important to have an exam with an eye doctor if you aren't sure of the cause. Watery eye treatments include the following, based on the cause:

• Anti-allergy treatments: Antihistamines or other allergy treatments may be recommended for allergic causes of watery eyes. These treatments can be eye drops or oral medications.
• Artificial tears: For dry eye, artificial tears help soothe and coat the eye when your tears cannot do so effectively.
• Antibiotics: If an infection is causing watery eyes, antibiotic eye drops may be prescribed.
• Treatments for an underlying condition causing watery eyes: For instance, Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune condition that may cause watery eyes. Diabetes and glaucoma also can lead to watery eyes due to dry eye.
• Punctal plugs: Tiny plugs are inserted in the eyes' punctal glands to stop the drainage of tears in some cases of dry eye.
• Surgery: Surgery may be considered for certain watery eye causes, including a blocked tear duct, entropion (when the eyelid turns inward), and ectropion (when the eyelid turns outward). If a tumor is the cause behind a watery eye, surgery also may be needed to remove it.

Treatment for Eye Watering in Babies

A blocked tear duct in babies that leads to eye watering usually will resolve on its own by the time the infant is 1 year old. However, your child's pediatrician or eye doctor may still advise that you try a gentle massage around the eye a couple of times daily to help open the tear duct. Make sure to wash your hands before trying this type of massage.

If the tear duct does not open on its own or with this massage, a procedure called a probing may be performed. It's often requires being under general anesthesia. It is very effective at opening the tear duct.

Home Remedies for Watery Eyes

You may wish to try some home remedies, including the following, before you visit an eye doctor for watery eyes:

• If you're staring at a computer screen for many hours, rest your eyes for a while to see if that helps.
• Try over-the-counter eye drops like artificial tears.
• If you have a newborn or infant with watery eyes, wash your hands well and try gently massaging near the inner corner of the eye to help open a blocked tear duct.
• If you suspect allergies are causing watery eyes, close your windows and stay indoors when outdoor allergen triggers are at their peak.
• Wear sunglasses when outside to protect your eyes from outdoor irritants.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

Here's when you should contact a healthcare provider for watery eyes:

• Your watery eyes continue for more than a few days, even if you don't have other symptoms.
• You have vision loss or blurred vision.
• There's a foreign object in your eye.
• Your eyes have discharge.
• You have pain in your eye(s).
• You have double vision.
• Chemicals have gotten into your eyes.

Summary

Watery eyes have many potential causes, including a blocked tear duct, dry eye, eye allergies, an eye infection, or a scratch to the eye. Sometimes, an underlying health condition can cause watery eyes. Watery eyes are also common in newborns due to a blocked tear duct.

Treatment for watery eyes depends on the cause and may include certain medications or surgery. Home remedies, such as using artificial tears or trying to avoid triggers that irritate the eyes, can sometimes help.

See an eye doctor if your watery eyes persist or if you also have vision changes, pain, or discharge.