Teary eyes, lacrimation respectively eye tears are a frequently occurring disease symptom at the ophthalmologist. Often it is for the affected thereby strenuous or problematic to see normally. Mostly, however, watery eyes are harmless and the treatment is easy.
What is lacrimation?
Increased lacrimation is often associated with pain and impaired vision for the affected person. We talk about watery eyes or lacrimation when the eyes water more than they usually do. The daily tear production differs from person to person. The average amount of tears is between 1.5 ml and 2.5 ml per day. External stimuli such as foreign bodies in the eye, computer work, drafts, dry air, smoke or dust particles, but also laughing, crying and yawning can cause this value to be exceeded. However, it usually regulates itself as soon as the triggering influences have been eliminated. If the excessive lacrimation persists permanently for no apparent reason, a visit to an ophthalmologist is advisable.
Causes
The causes of watery eyes are mostly irritation of the eyes due to environmental influences. Especially smoke, dust and low humidity can cause watery eyes. Even if it sounds strange at first, dry eyes in particular can also be responsible for watering eyes. In this case, tear formation is particularly stimulated as a reaction to dry eyes. Since the eyes can then no longer compensate for this excess of tears, the watery eyes are particularly noticeable. This is the case, for example, with conjunctivitis. Other causes are the composition or consistency of the tears. In addition to saline water, tears also consist of protein and a lipid layer. If the lipid layer is disturbed, the eyes can no longer hold the tears to the normal extent. In addition, the water content is increased. Injuries, such as scratches, foreign bodies on the corneal surface can also lead to watery and overflowing eyes. Likewise, a malposition of the eyelids can also be the cause of excessive moistening of the eyes. Rather rarely, watery eyes also occur when the lacrimal drainage is blocked. Especially in infants or babies, a blockage can occur when the tear ducts have not yet opened. Also with defective vision and bright and glaring light it can come to watery eyes, because here the vision is more strenuous and thus the eyes are more strained.
Diseases with this symptom
- Conjunctivitis
- Animal hair allergy
- Measles
- Allergy
- Mold allergy
- Corneal inflammation
- Hay fever
- House dust allergy
- Glaucoma
Diagnosis and course
The diagnosis of lacrimation or watery eyes is easy even for laypersons, because in this clinical picture the eyes water considerably more than usual. The increased tear flow is often associated with pain and impaired vision for the affected person. Characteristic of the course of lacrimation is that it continues as long as the irritation or injury to which the eye reacts with an overproduction of tears has not been successfully treated. If treatment is not provided, a steady increase in lacrimation, as well as the pain and visual impairment it causes, can be observed. With timely treatment, complete healing usually occurs.
Complications
Various complications may occur in association with watery eyes. If they are not treated, they are more prone to allergies and irritation in the long run. The moist surface of the eye becomes more sensitive, and new-onset allergies lead to renewed tearing. A vicious circle develops. In addition, the constant moisture in the eye causes bacteria to accumulate on its surface. This can lead to infections of the eye and conjunctivitis. The associated irritation, in turn, is often responsible for severe itching. If the affected person rubs over the itchy eye, further complications may arise. On the one hand, the risk of infection is increased many times over, and on the other hand, the vision of the eye in question may be limited. Allergic reactions can lead to problems with hay fever and asthma, depending on the severity. On top of that, the tear fluid attacks the skin lying around the eye.The skin becomes brittle over time, turns red and starts to hurt. A consequence can be eczema or bloody skin. To prevent such complications, treatment is necessary. It is important to treat the underlying disease. Improper treatment with eye drops, on the other hand, can itself lead to inflammation or aggravation of the symptoms. For this reason, if symptoms persist, the implementation of therapy should be in the hands of an ophthalmologist.
When should you go to the doctor?
Watery eyes can occur for many different reasons, so a visit to the doctor is recommended. Infection or even a foreign body in the eye are the most common causes of increased eye tearing. As a rule, an infection should always be treated with appropriate medication. In most cases, such an infection is caused by bacteria. An infection results in severe pain and increased lacrimal discharge from the eye. Affected persons suffering from such a clinical picture should seek medical treatment immediately. This is the only way to avoid serious and painful complications. Of course, a foreign body in the eye can also be responsible for heavy lacrimation. If it really is a foreign body, then the removal of the foreign body should only be done by a doctor. This is the only way to avoid serious injuries, as the human eye is a very sensitive organ. Thus, if you suffer from a severely watery eye, you should see an appropriate doctor early enough. If you do not visit the doctor, you must expect serious complications.
Treatment and therapy
The treatment of watery eyes often turns out to be simple at the ophthalmologist. If the watery eyes are not based on any other underlying disease, they can be treated with simple methods. If a disease (e.g. conjunctivitis and allergies) is responsible for the watery eyes, they should be treated first. Otherwise, all causes of watery eyes should be eliminated. For this purpose, areas or rooms with a lot of dust, smoke and wind should be avoided. Likewise, activities that overload the eyes should be reduced. This includes, for example, watching television for long periods of time or working and playing on the computer. Likewise, long and concentrated reading and fine work can also be reduced to protect the eyes. A diet rich in vitamins is a good support for the eyes. Especially vitamins A, B and E are beneficial for healthy eyes. Likewise, sufficient sleep should be ensured. If necessary, there are also eye drops and other medications that can bring about a normalization of the eye fluid.
Outlook and prognosis
In most cases, watery eyes are only a temporary symptom and thus do not necessarily need to be treated by a doctor. They usually disappear after only a few minutes or hours and do not lead to further discomfort or complications. Watery eyes are often triggered by foreign bodies in the eye. The eye then tries to remove this foreign body from the eye itself and therefore uses tears to flush it out. Under no circumstances should the person affected by watery eyes touch the eye or rub the eye. This can cause inflammation in the eye and will only further increase the watering of the eyes. Without treatment, the symptom disappears on its own in most cases. However, if the watery eyes persist for a long time and lead to pain or loss of vision, a doctor should be consulted immediately to avoid secondary damage. In most cases, treatment is done with the help of eye drops. Surgical procedures or medications are not needed, and treatment results in a positive disease outcome.
What you can do yourself
If the eyes water, a doctor should be consulted in any case to rule out serious diseases and avoid further complications. Often, however, the discomfort can already be alleviated by simple measures and some home remedies. Depending on the cause, sufficient sleep and rest can stop the flow of tears. A pleasant room climate protects the tear ducts and can be achieved, for example, through regular ventilation and humidifiers. A walk in the fresh air stimulates blood circulation in the eyes and helps flush out foreign bodies and regulate tear production.What should be avoided are drafts and smoke, as well as warm and dusty air. The car blower should always be adjusted as gently as possible for watery eyes. Women in particular should clean their eyes regularly and carefully remove make-up from the edges of the eyelids in particular. Contact lens wearers can avoid watery eyes by taking regular breaks from wearing their lenses and cleaning them. If these home remedies show no effect, eye drops from the pharmacy or homeopathic remedies such as Schüssler salts or Apis can help. Simple face masks also have an anti-inflammatory effect and can usually stop watery eyes quickly and effectively.
