Many people face the problem of tearing eyes for no reason. The syndrome is often provoked not by external factors, but by serious pathologies of the lacrimal glands or cornea. It is impossible to ignore the problem. If watery eyes, the cause will help establish the ophthalmologist, which is recommended to visit.
The physiological process of lacrimation
The lacrimal fluid is produced by glands, the ducts of which open under the upper eyelid. Thanks to blinking movements, the tear enters the conjunctival cavity and performs several functions:
- Protects the eye from drying out.
- Participates in the refraction of sunlight.
- It affects the nutrition and respiration of the cornea.
About 1 ml of tear fluid is released per day in a healthy person, this is enough to moisturize the eyes and restore the tear film. But there are situations when the number of secreted tears significantly exceeds the norm. Then the adult's eyes are watery for no reason.
Symptoms of tearing
It is important to understand that the release of tear fluid during laughter or crying is not a sign of pathology - it is a normal physiological process. But in other cases, when tears flow from the eyes, it is necessary to find out the cause.
If the eyes watery, then additional symptoms can be noted:
- I feel irritation in my eyes.
- Feeling that a foreign body has hit.
- Dry eye syndrome appears.
- Burning sensation.
The presence of such manifestations should force you to consult a doctor to find out why a person's eyes are watery.
Causes of tearing
Ophthalmologists most often encounter the following causes of increased secretion of lacrimal fluid:
- Deficiency of vitamins and minerals. Most often, this manifests a shortage of biologically active substances from group B and potassium. You can make up for synthetic complexes or a review of the diet.
- If the eyes watery, the reason may be hidden in poor-quality lenses or improper selection.
- If the mucous membrane of the eye is too dry, for example, due to excessively dry indoor air, this fact can provoke an increase in the release of tear fluid.
- The eye is red and watery - it may be in poor-quality cosmetics.
- In the workplace, insufficient lighting, humidity level below normal. All this leads to rapid eye fatigue, overdrying of the mucosa, which provokes the release of tear fluid.
- Eyes are watery in frost and windy weather. At low temperatures, the lacrimal canal narrows, so the tear does not have time to get into the nasopharynx and flows out of the eyes.
- Stress can trigger this symptom.
- Sitting for many hours behind a computer monitor leads to fatigue of the visual analyzer and the eyeball dries up from constant tension, which ends with tearing, burning in the eyes.
- Age-related changes explain why the eyes are watery in the elderly.
All of the listed reasons are not catastrophic for the body and are easily eliminated if desired.
Diseases accompanied by tearing
There are several pathologies that, among all the symptoms, have increased lacrimation. These include:
- Inflammatory eye diseases, such as conjunctivitis. Tearing is often the first manifestation of the development of the disease, then redness and a burning sensation already join. So the body reacts to the presence of infectious agents in the eye.
- There is such a pathology as blepharitis.
- Adenovirus infection. In addition to tears, abundant secretion of mucus from the nose is also observed.
- In the presence of allergies, the eyes are red and watery when exposed to an allergen.
- Narrowing or impaired patency of the lacrimal canal. Such a deviation can be congenital or acquired after an injury or the development of a tumor in the canal. If the defect is not eliminated, eyes will constantly watery.
- Inversion of the eyelids. Most often in this case, the lower eyelid is tucked into the cavity of the conjunctiva.
- Dacryocystitis is a blockage of the nasolacrimal canal followed by infection of the lacrimal sac. Usually with this pathology, one eye is watery in an adult.
- Inversion of the century. The lower eyelid is pulled down and does not adhere to the eyeball, which disrupts the outflow of tear fluid.
- Lagophthalmus is a pathology, manifested by the inability to fully close the eyelids. It is observed with damage to the facial nerve.
- The presence of Demodex mites inside the eyelash hair bag.
All of these pathologies need treatment, otherwise eliminating tearing will be problematic.
Eyes are watering in a child
Lacrimal fluid in children performs the same functions: nourishes, protects against damage and drying out, has an antiseptic and bactericidal effect. The causes of tearing in a child may be the same as in adults.
Mommies need to pay special attention to the symptom if it is provoked:
- An allergy.
- The penetration of infection into the eyes.
- Vitamin deficiency.
- Obstruction of the lacrimal canal (in this case, one eye is watery in a child). Often this is observed in infants aged 2-3 months.
Tears flow from one eye
If the tear duct is clogged, and this usually happens on one side, the eye begins to constantly water. In this case, you cannot do without the help of an ophthalmologist. If you ignore the symptom, the situation will worsen and may lead to narrowing of the channel and further infection.
The purulent form of dacryocystitis requires consultation not only by an oculist, but also by an allergist, ENT doctor and neurologist.
Tear Treatment
If watery eyes and causes are identified, then treatment will be aimed at eliminating them.
- Tearing due to narrowing or obstruction of the lacrimal canal can be eliminated only by surgery.
- The allergic nature of copious secretion of tears should be treated with antihistamines.
- If the culprits are dry air, long work at the computer, then it is necessary to maintain the humidity level normal, arrange breaks in work, properly organize the workplace, do gymnastics for the eyes.
- Inflammation of the lacrimal canal will have to be treated with antibacterial drugs.
- Tearing due to thyroid pathologies is treated by an endocrinologist who prescribes hormone replacement therapy. Against the background of treatment, the symptoms of pathology are reduced, including tearing.
If an unpleasant symptom appears, if you can’t solve the problem on your own, you should not continue self-medication. It is necessary to visit a specialist, identify the cause and eliminate it in effective ways.
Vitamins against tearing
Vitamins are biologically active substances that are needed in small quantities, but normal functioning of the body is impossible without them. If watery eyes on the street or at home, it is necessary to ensure the intake of the following vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin A. Influences the condition of the mucous membranes, necessary for night vision. With a lack of watery eyes in the cold, a burning sensation appears, the eyelids turn red.
- Iodine. An important element for the functioning of the thyroid gland. But self-medication with drugs with this element is fraught with an overdose of iodine in the body, which will be manifested by tearing, skin rashes, and rhinitis.
- Potassium. Lacrimation in the absence of serious eye pathologies can signal a lack of this element. Eliminating the deficiency normalizes the level of moisture in the eyes, and tearing stops.
By reviewing your diet, you can eliminate the deficiency of vitamins and minerals, which will benefit not only the condition of the eyes, but also the work of the whole organism.
Tear medications
If your eyes are watery on the street, then it is better to ask an ophthalmologist for advice so as not to harm yourself. There are a large number of funds that have the following effect:
- Antiseptic.
- Antibacterial.
- Moisturizing.
- Antiviral.
- Protective.
If the eyes watery, drops or other means for treatment are selected taking into account the cause of the pathology.
Drops for treatment
The varieties are as follows:
- Corticosteroids. Hormone-based drugs are prescribed most often with tearing of an allergic nature. The doctor recommends using exacerbations during the season. This group includes Dexamethasone.
- Antibacterial drops will help with conjunctivitis, blepharitis. Most often prescribed "Albucid", "Okomistin."
- Relieving swelling. Such drops are necessary for dry eye syndrome, long-term work at the computer. Vizin, Opton, Nafkon are popular.
- Antihistamines. Should be constantly with allergy sufferers. Relieve irritation by eliminating tearing. These include Azelastine, Patanol.
If you eliminate the cause of the abundant number of tears, then this symptom will cease to bother.
Ointments for the treatment of pathology
If the eyes watery, the reasons are clarified, and the drops do not help, then you can use ointments. The following drugs are suitable:
- Tetracycline ointment. It has a bactericidal effect. Effective for bacterial infections, therefore, it is prescribed for the treatment of conjunctivitis, blepharitis. Ointment should be laid 2-3 times a day per eyelid. It is not recommended to use for a long time, there is a danger of developing a fungal disease.
- "Hydrocortisone." Relieves swelling, reduces inflammation, eliminates itching and allergic manifestations. It will relieve ointment from tearing caused by chemical or thermal burns. You can not use the drug if the child has one eye watering, and for the treatment of pregnant women.
- Erythromycin ointment. It has an antibacterial effect. Before using the eyes, you need to clean and lay the ointment over the eyelid. The procedure is carried out 3 times a day. The drug does not have toxicity, therefore it is approved for use even in young children.
For the effectiveness of therapy, you can combine the use of ointments and drops, but do it better after consulting a doctor.
Folk remedies against tearing
If the cause of tearing is eye fatigue, prolonged work at the computer, then you can not rush to use drugs, but use folk recipes:
- Lotions of calendula. You need to purchase raw materials in a pharmacy or dry them yourself and prepare a decoction. You should moisten the cotton pads in it after cooling and attach to the eyes. Repeat preferably several times a day.
- Strong tea leaves are perfect for lotions.
- Potato compress. Grate raw potatoes and mix with the protein of a raw egg. Put the gruel in a cloth bag and attach to the eyes. The procedure will not only eliminate tearing, but also whiten the skin around the eyes.
- Tearing, troubling in the wind, can recede if you prepare a decoction from a tablespoon of caraway seeds and a glass of boiling water. Boil the composition for 10 minutes, strain and cool. Before going to bed, instill 3 drops every day.
- An excellent remedy is propolis. 5-6 grams of the drug should be dissolved in 100 ml of warm water and used as drops for the eyes. Propolis perfectly fights bacteria and viruses.
- Aloe. The sheet must be crushed and filled with water in a proportion of 1:10. After infusion, use as lotions.
- Washing for training the lacrimal canal. You need to wash your face with cool water, and then hot.
Not all means are good when you need to urgently fix a problem, but you can do everything to prevent it.
Tear Prevention
Preventive measures will significantly reduce the likelihood of tearing. Recommendations can be made as follows:
- Carefully choose cosmetics. Never use someone else’s makeup or testers in the store.
- Do not touch your eyes with your hands, especially if you are not sure of their cleanliness.
- If you become tired while working at the computer, then get distracted and do eye exercises. It is enough to screw up your eyes a few times and open your eyes.
- Going to the pool or to the reservoir, do not forget about glasses for swimming. They will protect your eyes from infection.
- If you use lenses, you must follow all recommendations for caring for them. During the day, you should remove them at least a couple of times so that the mucous membrane rests.
- With the most harmless symptoms, it is better not to delay the visit to the ophthalmologist so as not to miss a serious pathology.
With the help of the organ of vision, a person receives most of the information from the outside world. If problems arise, do not self-medicate, this can only aggravate the situation and lead to complications.