Tears are crucial to your eye health. This special mucus lubricates and keeps the eyes hydrated. It also washes foreign objects away to protect the eyes.
Sometimes, watery eyes can occur due to an overproduction of tears by the tear ducts. In most cases, this condition gets resolved on its own. But if it doesn’t subside after a few days, eye doctors should be able to help you and figure out the cause of your condition.
Keep reading to learn about the common causes of watery eyes and when you should see a doctor.
Tear ducts produce more tears when you get emotional. As you have experienced, this production is temporary and will disappear once your emotions stabilize. Your eyes can also become watery when you laugh, yawn, sneeze or cough.
Furthermore, foreign objects can irritate your eyes. If you’ve entered a dusty or windy environment, you may temporarily suffer from watery eyes. This is because wind can cause dust to enter your eyes or cause your tears to dry faster, signaling your body to increase its tear production.
In some cases, watery eyes are due to dry eye syndrome. This condition is a result of having poor-quality tears that cannot provide your eyes with proper lubrication and nourishment. If your tears dry too quickly, your tear ducts will compensate by producing excessive tears.
Other causes of watery eyes include eye strain and colds. Conjunctivitis, ingrown eyelashes and clogged tear ducts can also lead to this problem.
If you’re wearing contact lenses and you experience watery eyes along with other symptoms, call your eye doctor immediately. Typically, watery eyes don’t last for days. So, if your eyes have been watery for an extended period, you should visit an eye doctor.
Furthermore, if your eyes became watery due to a scratch, exposure to harsh chemicals or eye injury, seek medical attention immediately. You should also go to a doctor right away if your eyes are bruised, bleeding or secreting fluids.
Insight Vision Center Optometry has decades of experience in providing quality eye care. Our services include orthokeratology, comprehensive eye exams and more. To schedule an appointment, call us at (714) 486-3315, or fill out our contact form. We serve patients in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, CA.
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