Watery eyes

This is excessive tearing, Tears are the result of a balance between secretion (production) and excretion (drainage)

Excessive tear production can cause a tearing sensation or cause tears to flow down the cheek. Other symptoms such as eye irritation or pain may appear depending on the cause.

Most tears are secreted by the tear glands located above the outer part of the upper eyelid. Tears flow into the eye and come out through small openings in the inner corners of the eyelids near the nose (the upper and lower tear points) and go to a small duct (the canaliculus). Then they reach the tear sac and pass through the tear duct to the nose.

Blockage at any point in the tear flow path can cause tearing.

Obstruction in the nasal tear duct below the sac can lead to infection of the lacrimal sac, due to stagnation of tears in the sac (dacryocystitis). This infection can sometimes spread to the tissues around the eye (periorbital cellulitis).

Increased tear production or blockage of the tear flow pathways can cause tearing of the eyes.Common causes are

• - Upper respiratory tract infection
• Allergies affecting the nose (allergic rhinitis), the eyes (allergic conjunctivitis) or both.

• - Dry eye: strange as it may sound, the dry surface of the eye becomes irritated, the tear glands produce <reflex>> tears and so, surprisingly, dry eyes can produce tearing (see chapter on dryness). Certain tasks, such as reading or watching television, reduce blinking by hyper concentration, thus causing dry eyes.</reflex>
• - The eyelashes turned inwards that rub against the eyeball (trichiasis)
• - Eyelid turned outwards (ectropion) which moves the tear point from its normal position in contact with the globe outwards. thus the tears can no longer pass through the tear point and flow to the lacrimal canal and the nose.
• - Age-related narrowing of the tear ducts called acquired dacryostenosis
• - Chronic infections of the tear sac called dacryocystitis.
• - Corneal damage or irritation.

Any disorder causing irritation to the cornea (transparent layer in front of the iris and pupil) increases tear production. However, most people with corneal disorders that cause tearing (such as a scratched cornea or sore, a foreign body in the eye, or inflammation of the cornea) experience severe pain, redness, and / or sensitivity to light, which is why these people consult a doctor.