How to Stop Watery Eyes: Proven Tips For Relief

Tears play a vital role in lubricating and protecting the eyes. The production of tears, called lacrimation, is essential to maintain healthy eyes. There are three types of tears:

• Basal tears stay in your eyes all the time to continuously lubricate the eyes.

• Emotional tears are produced in response to strong emotional expression.

• Reflex tears (or reflexive tears) are made when the eye is irritated, for example, by bright lights or dust.

Watery eyes or excessive tearing are common symptoms of different eye problems. The medical term is epiphora. It occurs either because the eyes are producing too many tears or something is stopping the tears from draining out of the eyes properly. 

Watery eyes can be a temporary symptom that requires no treatment or minimal treatment with over-the-counter medicated eye drops and warm or cool compress. But it can also be a sign of a more serious eye problem, such as an eye infection or blocked tear duct, which needs to be properly diagnosed and treated. As mentioned, treatment options for excessive tearing depend on the underlying cause.

Common Remedies for Excessive Tear Production 

Watery eyes have many causes. The good news is that excessive tearing is often temporary and resolves with zero to minimal treatment. Below are some convenient home remedies and OTC products that can effectively relieve watery eyes. 

• Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops to stop surface irritation.

• Artificial tears to relieve dry eye syndrome, which can trigger watery eye symptoms.

• Over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops or oral antihistamine medication to relieve watery eyes due to allergies.

• Cool humidifier indoors to relieve dry eyes.

• Warm compresses to relieve inflammation and encourage tear flow if there is poor eye drainage.

• Cool compresses to provide relief from red, watery, irritated eyes caused by pink eye.

• Regular breaks from reading, watching TV, and computer work to relieve eye strain.

If these initial treatments don't work or if you experience eye pain, persistent redness, or changes in vision, you should make an appointment with your primary care provider or an eye doctor (optometrist). Your provider will determine the treatment approach depending on what's causing your watery eyes. 

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Causes of Watery Eyes  

Common Triggers and Environmental Factors  

• Dry air: Low humidity levels can cause dry eye syndrome, triggering excessive tear production and leading to watery eyes.

• Environmental irritants: Exposure to cold air, strong winds, dirt, dust, debris, bright lights, smoke, and chemical fumes can cause the eyes to water excessively.

• Aerosols: Direct contact with aerosols such as hair sprays, body sprays, perfumes, and air fresheners can irritate the eye and cause excessive watering.

• Face and eye makeup: Application of makeup directly on the oil glands along the waterline of the eye can clog these glands and cause irritation and watering. Using expired eye makeup or shared makeup can increase the risk of eye infection, inflammation leading to excessive tearing. 

• Contact lens use: Contact lenses that are dirty or torn can cause eye irritation and watering.

Underlying Medical Conditions: Why Do My Eyes Keep Watering?  

• Seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis or hay fever) can cause symptoms such as eye-watering, itching, redness, and swelling.

• Allergic conjunctivitis (pink eye) is a common viral infection that can cause itchy, red, watery, and irritated eyes. Identify the differences between pink eye and allergies.

• Stye (hordeolum or chalazion) from a clogged oil gland can cause a bump on the eyelid, swelling, oozing, itching, soreness, and eye tearing. Find out the differences between chalazion and stye.

• Entropion is an eye condition in which the eyelid is turned inwards, causing the eyelashes to irritate the cornea.

• Uveitis (chronic eye inflammation) can cause watering, eye pain, light sensitivity, and floaters.

• Trichiasis (inward-growing eyelashes) can cause eye irritation and excessive tearing. 

• Ocular surface disorders is a term used to describe different eye conditions that affect the cornea, conjunctiva, eyelids, and tear film, such as: 

  • Dry eye syndrome can trigger excessive tear production

  • Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid) can cause irritation, redness, and watering.

• Eye injuries:

  • Corneal abrasion (scratched cornea) can cause pain, redness, blurry vision, and watering.

• Tear production complications:

  • Dacryostenosis (blocked tear duct) in children can lead to excessive tearing because the opening of the tear duct is not properly formed. It resolves by most kids’ first birthdays.

  • Nasolacrimal duct obstruction (blocked tear ducts) in adults can cause watery eyes. Potential causes of blocked or narrow tear ducts include infections, injuries, facial swelling, tumors, growths called mucoceles in the sinuses, and dacryoliths (tear stones).

Symptoms of Watery Eyes  

Watery eye symptoms include:

• Tears running down your face.

• Eyes feeling wet all the time.

• Tearing in the absence of emotional expression (crying or laughing). 

Symptoms that commonly accompany watery eyes include:

• Eye inflammation or irritation

• Eye pain

• Vision impairment, such as blurred vision or cloudy vision

• Eye swelling

• Eye redness

• Eye itching

• Grittiness (a feeling that something is in your eye)

• Sneezing

• Runny nose

• Sinus pain or pressure

• Headache

Diagnosis and Treatments for Watery Eyes  

Your eye doctor can find the cause of your symptoms of watery eyes based on your medical history, other symptoms, eye exam, and test results, including:

• Colored eye drops to see how tears drain. If your eyes do not wash the dye away within a few minutes, it points towards a blocked tear duct. 

• Imaging studies such as X-rays and CT (computed tomography) scans.

• Nasal endoscopy. This is a minimally invasive procedure done using an instrument called an endoscope. It is a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera at its tip. It allows an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor to look inside your nose and can help diagnose problems with the sinus passages or tear ducts.

Home Remedies and Over-the-Counter Solutions

Treatment for epiphora (watery eyes or too many tears) depends on the cause. Oftentimes, watery eyes resolve on their own without any interventions.   Initially, your provider may recommend watchful waiting by tracking how often your eyes get watery. The patterns from the watchful waiting period provide your doctor with helpful information to determine the best treatment approach. Additionally, your doctor may recommend home remedies and over-the-counter products to help with watery eyes. Below are a few treatments that you can start at home:

Medical Treatments and Professional Advice  

If home remedies and OTC products don’t provide adequate relief from watery eyes, your healthcare provider may recommend the following treatment for watery eyes based on the cause: 

• Medications, including prescription eye drops and allergy medications, antibiotics for bacterial infections, and artificial tears for dry eye syndrome.

• Removal of foreign objects from your eye. 

• Unclogging of tear ducts by flushing with a saline solution or using a probe. 

• Surgery to open a blocked tear duct that does not flush open.

• Reconstruction or repair surgery, for example, if your eyelids are causing eye surface irritation. 

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Preventing Watery Eyes  

Lifestyle Changes and Practices: What Helps With Excessive Watery Eyes?

• If your watery eyes are due to seasonal allergies, avoid allergy triggers. For example, stay indoors when pollen counts are high.

• Throw out any eye makeup that’s past its expiration date. Don’t share eye makeup with others.

• Follow your optometrist's recommendations for contact lens hygiene.

• Don’t rub your eyes or allow things like tissues or towels to touch your eye surface. 

• Wear proper eye protection, such as wraparound goggles while at work or during activities that can damage your eyes, cause eye surface irritation, or expose your eyes to chemicals or fumes.

Check out more helpful tips for healthy eyes.

When to See an Eye Doctor for Watery Eyes  

Signs That Require Medical Attention  

Go to the nearest emergency room if you have experienced facial or eye trauma or developed sudden vision loss in one or both eyes.

Make an appointment to see your primary care physician or eye doctor if you have symptoms such as eye pain, redness, swelling, watering, changes in vision, or a lump or bump. It is especially important to seek medical care if your symptoms persist for more than a few days.

Preparing for Your Eye Doctor Appointment

• Bring your eyeglasses or contact lenses.

• Carry a list of all your current medications.

• Bring sunglasses - your eyes may be sensitive to light after an eye exam.

• Arrange for someone to drive you to the appointment if you are having a dilated eye exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Get My Eyes To Stop Watering?

You can get your eyes to stop watering with some simple home remedies, such as:

• Apply a warm compress to dry eyes.

• Apply a cool compress to irritated eyes.

• Blink frequently.

• Remove eye makeup and clean your eyelashes.

• Avoid air conditioning, smoke, wind, and bright lights.

• Take over-the-counter cold and allergy medications.

• Rest your eyes.

• Use a humidifier indoors during the dry winter months.

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What Is The Cause of Watery Eyes?

Common causes of watery eyes include:

• Allergies.

• Eye inflammation such as conjunctivitis, blepharitis, or uveitis.

• Blockage of a tear duct.

• Irritation from chemicals, wind, bright lights, dust, sand, etc.

• Foreign body in the eye.

• Injuries such as scrapes to the eye surface.

• Inward-growing eyelashes.

• Eyelid issues like styes.

Why Is My Eye Producing So Much Water?

Your eye may be producing excess amounts of water either due to increased tear production or blocked tear drainage. A healthcare provider can help identify the cause.

What Does Eye Watering Mean?

Eye watering can mean something temporary, like irritation from bright lights, or something more serious, like an eye infection which needs to be treated with antibiotic eye drops. Even previous cancer treatment with certain drugs can cause excessive tearing. It’s best to see a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis if the tearing persists and let your doctor pinpoint the cause.

What Deficiency Causes Watery Eyes?

Certain nutrient deficiencies, such as vitamin A deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, and vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to dry eye, which can trigger excessive watering. If you have complaints of eyes constantly watering, it’s important to see a doctor and find out the cause.

How To Stop Watery Eyes From Allergies?

Here are some tips on stopping watery eyes from allergies:

• Wear sunglasses (wraparound style) when outdoors.

• Stay inside on high pollen count days.

• Keep doors and windows closed during allergy season.

• Wash your face after exposure to allergens.

• Use an HVAC filter or air purifier in your home.

• Use a dehumidifier to control mold.

• Wash your hands after petting animals.

Why Do Tears Randomly Come Out When I Lay Down?

If you have excessive tearing, it’s possible that when you lay down, gravity helps the excess tears run down a tear duct. If the tearing occurs only on the side you’re lying on, this is likely the cause. You should call your doctor to find out the reason for too many tears forming.

Why Is Only One Eye Watering?

If only one eye is weeping or watering, it could be due to an eye condition such as a foreign object in the eye, a corneal abrasion, an eye injury, or an eye infection on that side. This is called unilateral epiphora.