How to Get Rid of Watery Eyes

Have you ever found yourself wiping your eyes nonstop and wondering why they keep watering? Although it’s acceptable to cry occasionally, having watery eyes all the time can be annoying and upsetting. Constant tearing can cause blurred vision, skin irritation, and difficulty doing daily duties, regardless of the cause—allergies, dry eyes, or environmental conditions.

The problem of watery eyes or epiphora is the condition of an uncontrolled overflow of tears on the face from the eyes without any reason. It causes the tear film drainage of insufficient size instead of drainage through the nasolacrimal system, and the tears start to appear on the face.

This article will help you recover comfort by discussing the common causes of watery eyes, practical home remedies, medical treatments, and preventive measures.

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Causes of Watery Eyes?

When you laugh, cry, cough, vomit, yawn, or experience intense taste sensations, your eyes frequently produce excessive tears momentarily.

Dry eye syndrome is one of the most common causes of watery eyes. If your eyes are really dry, you may cry too much. You continuously produce tears because your eyes are not getting enough lubricant, which feeds the cycle.

Common causes of watery eyes are:

• Weather factors like dust, wind, cold, and sunlight are common causes of wet eyes.
• Eye strain.
• Environmental elements like pollution and intense light.
• Allergies, nasal issues, and common cold.
• Blocked ducts for tears.
• Chemicals, foreign objects, or irritant liquids and gases in the eye.
• Damage to the eye, like a cut or scratch.
• A few prescription drugs.
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis).
• Ingrown eyelashes (trichiasis) or other illnesses.

Symptoms and Signs of Watery Eyes?

The primary symptoms of watery eyes, along with water in the eyes all the time, are listed below.

• Redness and puffiness in the eyes
• Eye pain
• Infection or inflammation
• Impairment of vision
• Allergies
• Sneezing
• Eye discharge and twitching

Even though watery eyes are considered severe, it is recommended to consult with the doctor immediately if they are accompanied by other symptoms such as pain, tenderness in the eyes or nose area, excess discharge, etc. These are all serious symptoms and need to be treated as early as possible.

Read More: Dry Eyes: 10 Best Eye Drops 2021; Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

How to Stop Watery Eyes Fast?

Fortunately, various remedies for watery eyes can provide instant relief. However, to reduce the other side effects of the treatment, it is recommended that you get watery eye treatment from an experienced expert.

Usually, the problem of watery eyes goes away within a few weeks, and no treatment is required. Your doctor will perform an eye test to know the exact cause. Your doctor will also ask about the recent eye injuries and health conditions. It is also important to tell your doctor about all the prescribed as well as over-the-counter medications you are consuming.

The doctor can also order specific tests to determine whether tears pass through tear ducts. Here are a few easy homemade remedies and over-the-counter medications to help watery eyes.

Irritants: Some ways to treat eye irritation are to avoid the irritant, wash your eyes with clean water, or wear safety gear around chemicals and smoke.

Apply a Warm Compress: The solution for watery eyes may depend on the underlying cause. Using a warm compress, for instance, can help stop your eyes from crying if you have dry eyes. The heat can aid in gland unclogging and oil release into the tear film, maintaining moisture on the eye’s surface. You can create your compress by using a small towel or washcloth bathed in warm (not hot) water and wrung out. You can alternatively buy commercially sold compresses.

Try a Humidifier: If dryness is the cause of your watery eyes, a humidifier might help. By adding moisture to the air, this device can reduce discomfort and slow the evaporation of your tear film.

Infections: While doctors treat bacterial conjunctivitis with medication, watering caused by viral conjunctivitis usually resolves independently.

Ectropion: If the patient’s eyelid turns outward, the surgeon may have to tighten the tendon holding the eyelid in place during surgery. This disorder may impact one or both eyelids.

Stop Wearing Contact Lenses: If you are wearing contact lenses, your eyes may get more teary. Because contact lenses alter the tear film, they increase the chance of developing dry eye disease. Contact lenses can also decrease the quantity and thickness of tears. Reducing the time you spend wearing your contacts or taking them off could assist if you have watery eyes.

Over-the-counter: To treat watery eyes from allergies, use over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops or oral antihistamine medicine.

Minimize Digital Eye Strain: Long periods of computer screen staring, particularly without adequate blinking, can cause dry, watery eyes. Additionally, your eyes may feel weary and painful, and your vision may become fuzzy. These are signs of eye strain from digital devices.

Read More: 16 Effective Cures For Dry Eyes That Work Like Magic

When to See a Doctor

Watery eyes are usually a minor annoyance you can manage alone. However, if you experience any of the following, get care right away for tearing:

• You have serious injuries to your eye.
• A chemical has splattered on your eye.
• You experience severe pain, bleeding, or changes in vision.
• Loss of vision or problems with vision.
• Inexplicable bruises surrounding your eye.
• Sensitivity in the sinuses or around your nose.
• The eye has a lot of discharge.
• Problems with the eyes and a rather nasty headache.
• Tears in the eyes that don’t go away on their own.
• There is no apparent cause for the prolonged excessive tearing.

Read More: How to Treat Headaches Behind The Eyes

Conclusion

Although watery eyes may seem a minor annoyance, it’s time to act when excessive tears interfere with day-to-day functioning. Several things might cause this problem, ranging from environmental triggers to underlying medical issues. The good news? Relief from simple home cures might come quickly.

But it’s important to take eye health seriously. See a specialist if your watery eyes don’t go away after trying DIY remedies or if they are accompanied by pain, swelling, blurred vision, or an odd discharge. The eyes are essential indicators of general health and windows into the soul.

You can regain comfort and vision clarity by being proactive, recognizing triggers, and understanding when to get medical attention. Therefore, put your anxieties aside, take appropriate care of yourself, and let your eyes shine without the unwelcome tears!

FAQs

Can stress cause watery eyes?

Yes, stress can bring on wet eyes. Hormones released by the body under stress can produce dry eyes, excessive blinking, or eye strain, resulting in reflex tearing. Furthermore, weariness brought on by stress can exacerbate eye sensitivity, leading to excessive watering as a defense mechanism against swelling.

Are watery eyes a symptom of a serious condition?

There are several potential causes of watery eyes, or epiphora, many of which are not life-threatening. However, watery eyes can occasionally indicate a more serious illness, including an infection or a blockage in the tear ducts.

Why do my eyes water in cold weather?

Because cold air tends to be dry, the moisture on your eye surface evaporates more quickly, which causes your tear glands to produce more tears to rehydrate and protect your eyes automatically. In other words, your body attempts to compensate for the dryness by producing more tears.

What’s the best natural remedy for watery eyes?

Tea bags and pieces of chilled cucumber will help relieve discomfort, while a warm compress can assist in clearing the tear ducts. Rose water and aloe vera gel are also suitable for reducing inflammation. The secret to naturally avoiding excessive tearing is recognizing and staying away from irritants, such as allergies and screen strain.

• Jul 2017
  Written by Prajakt
• Feb 2025
  Edited by Ankita