Why are my eyes watery and what to do about it
Miscellaneous / / October 01, 2021
Lifehacker has collected 15 common reasons.
Tears are generatedTears / U.S. National Library of Medicine in special glands located under the eyebrow. This fluid is constantly released: it cleans and moisturizes the eyes when a person blinks. Then, through the ducts in the inner corners, it is excreted through the nasolacrimal canal into the nasal cavity, and then into the pharynx.
Normally, the glands secreteB. M. Carlson. The Human Body: Linking Structure and Function from 0.75 to 1.1 milliliters of tears daily. When there is too much fluid, lacrimation occurs. Most often this happens due to the experienced emotions. But the eyes can water and other reasons - from safe to those requiring urgent medical attention. Here are the most common ones.
1. Weather
Bright sun, cold air, wind canWhy Are My Eyes Watering? / Healthline cause reflex lacrimation. Other symptoms will not appear.
What to do
Nothing. Everything will return to normal when the eyes are not irritated by bright light or other weather factors.
2. Smoke or smog
Chemicals in the air are sometimes irritating too.Watery eyes / U.S. National Library of Medicine eyes. At the same time, some people experience lacrimation, burning, discomfort.
What to do
You can rinse your eyes with clean water if the smoke is very corrosive. It's also worth trying to get out into the fresh air as soon as possible. But no special help is needed.
3. Onion
When you have to cut it, the vegetable secretesWhat Are Tears Made Of? 17 Facts About Tears That May Surprise You / Healthline gas that is highly irritating to the mucous membrane of the eyes. As a result, they begin to water.
What to do
You need to rinse your eyes with running cool water. And so that onions no longer cause tears during cooking, use one of the tipsWhy Do Onions Make You Cry? / Healthline:
- Keep your face as far away from the onion table as possible to prevent gas fumes from rising directly into your eyes.
- Do not cut the vegetable close to the roots. This is where the most irritating chemical accumulates.
- Use sharp knife. It does not damage the cells of the onion so much, which means that less gas will be released.
- Pre-soak the vegetable for 30 minutes in cold water. Or wet it while slicing.
- Open a cold water tap nearby.
- Wear safety goggles.
- Switch on the hood in advance. This will help improve ventilation.
4. Pungent odors
Too strong scent of perfume or bleach can also irritate the eyes and causeWhat Are Tears Made Of? 17 Facts About Tears That May Surprise You / Healthline lacrimation.
What to do
Ventilate the room. When the stimulus stops, the eyes will also stop watering.
5. Yawn
When a person yawns violentlyWatery eyes / U. S. National Library of Medicine, eyes can water from exertion.
What to do
Usually nothing. But sometimes too frequent and too strong yawn is anYawning - excessive / U. S. National Library of Medicine a symptom of a dangerous disease. For example, brain tumors, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. If you constantly want to yawn, you should contact a therapist or neurologist and get tested.
6. Vomit
She can tooWatery eyes / U. S. National Library of Medicine cause reflex lacrimation.
What to do
You need to look for and eliminate the cause vomiting. Then the eyes will stop watering.
7. Allergy
It can occurHay fever / Mayo Clinic by contact with animal hair, pollen, dust mites or moldMold allergy / Mayo Clinic. Moreover, in addition to lacrimation, the following symptoms appear:
- runny nose and nasal congestion;
- redness of the eyes (conjunctivitis);
- sneezing;
- cough;
- itchy nose;
- swelling and blue discoloration of the skin under the eyes;
- runny nasal discharge;
- fatigue.
What to do
If a person knows they are allergic, they can takeHay fever / Mayo Clinic a habitual antihistamine. Symptoms, including watery eyes, will disappear.
For those who have encountered such manifestations for the first time, it is better to consult a therapist. The doctor will select the appropriate medicine, and after the condition improves, he will refer you to the allergist. The specialist will offer to conduct allergen test and find out what exactly makes your eyes water.
8. Eye injury or foreign body
Lachrymation may beginWatery eyes / Mayo Clinic reflexively - to cleanse the eyes if dust, sand or other debris gets into them. The same reaction occurs if, for example, you scratch the eye, poke it with a finger or a blunt object. As a rule, this is accompanied by discomfort, pain or burning sensation.
What to do
If got in the eye small rubbish, experts from the reputable medical organization Mayo Clinic adviseForeign object in the eye: First aid / Mayo Clinic wash your hands and give yourself first aid in one of the following ways:
- Rinse eyes with a gentle stream of warm water.
- Collect a full glass of warm water. Plunge your eye into it, tilting your head, and blink.
- Take a shower and direct a stream of water to the forehead, while keeping the eyelid open.
To those who wear contact lenses, it is worth taking them off before rinsing your eyes. Sometimes a foreign body adheres to the lower edge of the lens.
To help another person, sit him in a lighted place, pull back the eyelid and carefully examine the affected organ. If the debris floats on the surface in a tear film, you can try to rinse it off with a pipette with clean water. Or just clean your eyes under a stream of warm water.
If this does not help or a foreign body sticks out of the eye, vision deteriorated or unpleasant symptoms persist for more than a day, it is worth contacting an ophthalmologist.
In the event of an injury, rinsing is most likely not needed. But if the eye continues to hurt and watery for several hours, a doctor's examination is necessary.
9. Inflammation or infection
Due to viruses, bacteria, and chemicals, the eyes can become inflamed. This is a sign of one of the following conditions:
- Conjunctivitis. This is an inflammation of the membrane that covers the protein and the inside of the eyelid. With this pathology,Pink eye (conjunctivitis) / Mayo Clinic itching, redness, gritty sensation in the eye, and often a purulent discharge.
- Blepharitis This is an inflammation of the eyelids. It developsBlepharitis / Mayo Clinic when the sebaceous glands at the base of the eyelashes are blocked due to seborrheic dermatitis, microscopic mites or other causes. At the same time, the eyelids become swollen, itchy, flaky, the eyes turn red and the person is disturbed by the sensation of a foreign body. Occasionally, discharge collects on the eyelashes.
- Keratitis. This is what they callKeratitis / Mayo Clinic inflammation of the cornea of the eye. The reason is infection or injury. At the same time, the eyes turn red and sore, it is very difficult to open the eyelids. Photophobia or vision impairment may occur.
- Trachoma. Specific eye inflammation that causesTrachoma / Mayo Clinic chlamydia. Is accompanied by redness, itching and painflowing pus. And later, a person may completely lose sight.
What to do
It is worth contacting an ophthalmologist to prescribe a suitable treatment. It can bePink eye (conjunctivitis) / Mayo Clinic drops or ointments with antibiotics, hormones and even immunostimulants. In severe cases, antibacterial drugs are used in tablets. Also, in the later stages of trachoma,Trachoma / Mayo Clinic surgery, with keratitis - corneal transplant.
10. Blocked tear duct
This happens most oftenBlocked tear duct / Mayo Clinic in newborns, when the duct system is not yet developed, as well as in the elderly, due to age-related narrowing of the lacrimal canal. In other cases, blockage occurs with inflammation, eye injury, or a nearby tumor. In addition, droplets from glaucoma, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
In this case, the eye not only watery, but also turns red, painful swelling occurs in the inner corner, mucus or pus is released, and vision becomes blurred. Sometimes one of the symptoms is persistent eye infections.
What to do
You need to see an ophthalmologist. Treatment depends on the causeBlocked tear duct / Mayo Clinic Problems.
- Antibiotics If a microbial infection is to blame, your doctor will prescribe drops or pills.
- Eye corner massage. He is sometimes appointed small children and those with trauma-related blockages.
- Sounding. With a special tool, the medic will expand the duct and insert a probe into it to flush the canal.
- Stenting. During the operation, a silicone tube is inserted into the duct to drain the tears. It will be removed after 3 months.
- Balloon catheter. This is a tube that is inserted into a duct and then inflated to remove an obstruction in the duct.
- Dacryocystorhinostomy. This is the name of the operation during which they createInformation for Patients on Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) / Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust a new duct and restore the outflow of tears.
11. Dry eye syndrome
It arisesDry eyes / Mayo Clinic due to insufficient production or increased evaporation of tears. Therefore, to moisturize the eyes, the lacrimal glands begin to work more actively. In parallel, other symptoms appear. A person is worried about the sensation of a foreign body, dryness and burning sensation in the eyes, they turn red or become sensitive to light. Sometimes thin mucus is secreted, and vision becomes cloudy. In addition, there may be problems using contact lenses or driving in the dark.
Have dry eye syndrome many reasons:
- Decreased production of tears as a result of natural aging.
- Some diseases, such as Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, thyroid disease.
- Lack of vitamin A.
- Taking antidepressants, antihistamines and contraceptives, hormones, drugs for high blood pressure, acne and Parkinson's disease.
- Decreased sensitivity of the corneal nerve due to the use of contact lenses or after surgery.
- Rare blinking when driving a car, working at the computer.
- Posterior blepharitis is an inflammation of the inside of the eyelids.
- Influence of wind, smoke or dry air.
- Reaction to preservatives in eye drops.
What to do
With dry eye syndrome, an ophthalmologist should be consulted for appropriate treatment. Depending on the reason, this may beDry eyes / Mayo Clinic:
- Anti-inflammatory drops.
- Antibiotics
- Artificial tears.
- Pills that stimulate the production of tears.
- Drops from the patient's own blood serum.
- Clogging of the lacrimal canals with removable silicone plugs or the cauterization method.
- Special contact lenses for moisture retention.
- Massage or light therapy of the area of the lacrimal glands, warm compresses.
12. Ectropion
This is the name of the condition in which the eyelid turns outward, so its inner part opens slightly and is easily irritated. This leads to dry eyes, watery eyes, and sensitivity to light. Ectropion is usuallyEctropion / Mayo Clinic on the lower eyelid and may occur for the following reasons:
- Weakness of the facial muscles. This is often due to the aging of the body.
- Facial nerve paralysis. With Bell's palsy and some tumors, facial nerves are affected, causing the muscles under the eyes to lose tone and sag along with the eyelid.
- Scars on the face. After a burn or severe injury, deep scars sometimes form, pulling the eyelid down.
- Neoplasms for the century. They can mechanically twist the skin under the eye.
- Genetic defects. Ectropion often develops from birth with Down syndrome.
What to do
It will help hereEctropion / Mayo Clinic only operation. The doctor will remove the crease so that the eyelid fits snugly against the eye. And if the reason is the formation of a scar, then a skin transplant will be needed.
13. Entropion
This is a condition in which the eyelid, on the contrary, is wrappedEntropion / Mayo Clinic inside. As a result, the eyelashes rub against the whites of the eyes, causing discomfort, irritation, and the eyes watery at the same time. Entropion is congenital, but it can also result from injury, infection, inflammation, or muscle weakness due to aging.
What to do
See an ophthalmologist. The doctor may suggestEntropion / Mayo Clinic such treatment options:
- Soft contact lenses for eye protection.
- Botox injections. Helps relax the muscles of the lower eyelid.
- The imposition of special eversion sutures.
- Fixation of the eyelid with transparent medical tape.
- An operation during which part of the eyelid skin or scars is removed.
14. Wegener's granulomatosis
This is a disease in which, for an unknown reason, the immune system is activated, inflamedGranulomatosis with polyangiitis / Mayo Clinic vessels in the eyes, sinuses, lungs and kidneys. In addition to lacrimation, the following symptoms occur:
- purulent discharge from the nose;
- cough, sometimes with bloody sputum;
- shortness of breath or wheezing;
- increased body temperature;
- fatigue;
- joint pain;
- numbness of the limbs;
- weight loss;
- blood in the urine;
- ulcers, bruises, skin rashes;
- redness, burning, or pain in the eyes;
- ear inflammation and hearing problems.
What to do
Visit an ophthalmologist. Although there is no effective remedy for granulomatosis, symptoms can be reduced. To do this, appointGranulomatosis with polyangiitis / Mayo Clinic corticosteroids and cytostatics that suppress the immune system.
15. Stevens Johnson Syndrome
It is a rare disease of the skin and mucous membranes, including the eyes, that occursStevens-Johnson syndrome / Mayo Clinic as a reaction to a drug. Most often, the pathology is caused by over-the-counter pain relievers, antibiotics, anticonvulsants, or drugs for gout. Stevens-Johnson syndrome manifests itself as follows:
- heat;
- lacrimation;
- sore throat;
- fatigue;
- heat in the eyes;
- pain in the skin all over the body;
- red or purple rash;
- blisters on the skin, lining of the mouth, nose, eyes, or genitals;
- peeling of the epidermis after blisters.
What to do
Call an ambulance immediately, especially if the child has symptoms. The patient is prescribedStevens-Johnson syndrome / Mayo Clinic drugs to reduce manifestations. These are usually corticosteroids, pain relievers, if necessary - antibiotics. It is imperative to restore the balance of fluid and nutrients with the help of droppers, since a person loses a lot of water through the skin. Cooling compresses and dressings may be applied to wounds.
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