Watery eyes

Date Updated: 08/27/2024

Definition

Watery eyes tear often or too much. Another name for watery eyes is epiphora.

Depending on the cause, watery eyes may clear up on their own. Self-care measures at home can help, especially if the cause is dry eyes.

Causes

Watery eyes can be due to many factors and conditions.

In babies and children, blocked tear ducts are the most common cause of persistent watery eyes. The tear ducts don't make tears. Rather, they carry away tears, like how a storm drain carries away rainwater. Tears usually drain into the nose through tiny openings called puncta in the inner part of the eyelids near the nose. Then the tears travel through a thin tissue layer over the opening that empties into the nose, called the nasolacrimal duct. In babies, the nasolacrimal duct may not be fully open and functioning for the first several months of life.

In older adults, persistent watery eyes may happen as the aging skin of the eyelids sags away from the eyeballs. This lets tears build up and makes it harder for the tears to drain properly into the nose. Adults also can develop blocked tear ducts due to causes such as trauma, infections and swelling called inflammation.

Sometimes, the tear glands make too many tears. This can be in response to the eye surface being dry. Any type of eye surface inflammation also may cause watery eyes, including tiny objects that get stuck in the eye, allergies, or viral infections.

Medicine causes

Chemotherapy medicines
Eye drops, especially echothiophate iodide, pilocarpine (Isopto Carpine) and epinephrine

Common causes

Allergies
Blepharitis (a condition that causes eyelid inflammation)
Blocked tear duct
Common cold
Corneal abrasion (scratch): First aid
Corneal ulcer
Dry eyes (caused by decreased production of tears)
Ectropion (a condition in which the eyelid turns outward)
Entropion (a condition in which the eyelid turns inward)
Foreign object in the eye: First aid
Hay fever (also known as allergic rhinitis)
Ingrown eyelash (trichiasis)
Keratitis (a condition involving inflammation of the cornea)
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Stye (sty) (a red, painful lump near the edge of your eyelid)
Tear duct infection
Trachoma (a bacterial infection that affects the eyes)

Other causes

Bell's palsy (a condition that causes sudden weakness on one side of the face)
Blow to the eye or other eye injury
Burns
Chemical splash in the eye: First aid
Chronic sinusitis
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (a condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels)
Inflammatory diseases
Radiation therapy
Rheumatoid arthritis (a condition that can affect the joints and organs)
Sarcoidosis (a condition in which tiny collections of inflammatory cells can form in any part of the body)
Sjogren's syndrome (a condition that can cause dry eyes and a dry mouth)
Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a rare condition that affects the skin and mucous membranes)
Surgery of the eye or nose
Tumors affecting the tear drainage system

When to see a doctor

See a healthcare professional right away if you have watery eyes with:

Worse vision or changes in vision.
Pain around your eyes.
The feeling that something is in your eye.

Watery eyes may clear up on their own. If the problem is due to dry eyes or eye irritation, use of artificial tears may help. So might placing a warm compress over your eyes for a few minutes. If you keep getting watery eyes, make an appointment with your healthcare professional. If needed, you may be referred to an eye doctor called an ophthalmologist.