Why does a person have tears? Maybe we can do perfectly without them? This thought sometimes comes to mind, especially when tearing starts to bother. Its reasons are various. But first, a little about how tears form.
Above, at the outer edge of the eye, is the lacrimal gland, which produces fluid. Tears performs a protective function. They protect the eye from infection, with their help small specks are removed. They moisturize the eyeball, protect the eyes from wind, cold, bright sun. But sometimes their excessive formation causes lacrimation. The eye protects itself in this way. For example, in the wind, in cold weather, in a room where there is a lot of smoke or irritating chemicals in the air.
Tears in increased quantities are produced with conjunctivitis - inflammation of the conjunctiva, or keratitis - inflammation of the cornea. There are other factors that cause lacrimation. The reasons may be the improper wearing of contact lenses, foreign bodies that have fallen into the eye, burns with ultraviolet rays, and contact with the eyes of some chemicals, such as mascara or cream. Sometimes, increased function of the lacrimal glands is to blame for lacrimation.
Another group of reasons is everything that disturbs the normal outflow of tears. To remove excess tear fluid, there is a lacrimal sac and the paths along which it flows into the nasal passages. Disruption of the outflow can be trauma, inflammation, stones of the tear duct, swelling of the nasal mucosa with rhinitis. Young children also often have lacrimation. The reasons for it usually consist in the anatomical features of young children. But sometimes it is associated with dacryostenosis - a mucous plug that did not have time to resolve after birth.
In older people, the location of the lacrimal openings, the openings of the tear duct, changes with age. This is due to a violation of the elasticity of the skin of the eyelids. In the wind or in the cold, lacrimation begins. In this case, you need to contact an ophthalmologist. If patency of the tear ducts is impaired, only the removal of obstructions to the outflow of fluid will help. Sometimes massage of the lacrimal sac helps. If it has no effect, a small surgical intervention or washing of the lacrimal ducts will restore the correct outflow of them.
However, there are more serious reasons for this unpleasant phenomenon. These include dacryocystitis and trauma to the pathways along which the tear fluid outflows . Injuries to the nasal septum, if accompanied by its curvature, can also cause lacrimation. These reasons can only be eliminated in an ophthalmic hospital. Therefore, an appeal to an ophthalmologist is necessary here.
In people after 50 years, lacrimation may develop due to a disorder called dry eye syndrome. Eyes begin to water in the light, in the wind, sometimes even for no apparent reason. This is due to the fact that due to age-related changes, the protective function of the tear film is disrupted. The medical treatment of lacrimation with the help of substitute drops (vidisic, ophthalmic, ophthalmic) and others can help here. But in any case, you must first consult an ophthalmologist who should clarify the diagnosis.
How to cope with the problem, in each case, the doctor must decide. In the first place, infectious and inflammatory eye diseases, problems associated with wearing lenses, injuries and exposure to chemicals are excluded. If lacrimation is seasonal in nature, it probably occurs as an allergic reaction to plant pollen. An allergist consultation will help here.
In any case, lacrimation must be fought. Do not put up with him even at a very old age. I wish you good health and excellent vision!