Watery eyes: What you should know

Watery eyes, where tears run more often than usual, can be a cause of annoyance and discomfort. There are numerous potential causes behind watery eyes. Although not usually a sign of something serious, consulting an ophthalmologist is important to rule out eye conditions which require prompt treatment. In this informative article, leading consultant ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon Mr Tahir Farooq details the most common causes of watery eyes and the different treatment options available.

What is the main cause of watery eyes?

Watery eyes are a multifactorial problem and the cause must first be established before the correct treatment can be prescribed. The most common cause is actually dry eye. Dry eye has a number of potential causes, such as:

• a deficiency in the tear film
• a lid margin disease or an eyelid condition
• blepharitis
• Meibomian gland dysfunction

Although most watery eye complaints can be linked to one of these conditions, there are numerous causes of watery eyes. These problems can affect people of any age.

When should medical attention be sought?

I would recommend seeing an ophthalmologist if you have watery eye to rule out serious problems. Blocked tear ducts, for example, can lead to a serious infection that will need oral antibiotics or in severe cases, admission to hospital for intravenous antibiotics. Watery eyes can also be caused by an eyelash or foreign body going into your eye or from wearing contact lenses. A specialist ophthalmologist will be able to establish the cause and find the best treatment option.

What are some home remedies to treat watery eyes?

Generally, home remedies to take care of the eyes are the same whatever eye condition the patient is experiencing. Administering boiled and cooled water to clean the eye as well as hot compresses to the eyelid are the only home remedies I would recommend. You can also go to the pharmacy to buy lubricating eye drops over the counter and your pharmacist or optician will be able to advise you on how to use them effectively.

Once you have an established diagnosis from an ophthalmologist, the best way to take care of your eyes is to follow their advice. This treatment is usually long term and I would advise sticking to your treatment regime to prevent the development of watery eyes.

How can watery eyes be cured?

To cure or stop watery eyes, establishing the cause is essential. Generally speaking, you should look to take care of the eyes by using hot compresses and maintaining good lid hygiene. Some people also advocate lid wipes, flax seed oil or vitamins which can be purchased from the pharmacy.

For some patients, antibiotics or topical steroids may be required but this depends on the cause of their watery eyes. If an overproduction of tears is diagnosed, Botox may be considered. A lack of drainage may mean that lacrimal or eyelid surgery can alleviate the problem.

To unblock a tear duct, doctors perform a procedure known as a dacryocystorhinostomy or DCR. The surgery can be done in two ways; externally or with an endo-nasal approach. Although the method differs, both techniques bypass the blocked area and allow the tears to drain in a different pathway, into the nose from the eyelid. The external technique has a slightly better success rate but does leave a visible scar on the side of the nose. The endoscopic approach has a slightly lower success rate but there is no external scar. Alternatively, a thin glass tube can be inserted into the corner of the eye which helps to drain the tears directly into the nose.

Is watery eye a lifelong condition?

This depends largely on the cause of the watery eyes but if treatment can be offered, patients will see an improvement. Most commonly, dry eyelid margin disease is behind the problem and this will require ongoing care. If at any point the patient stops the treatment, the watery eyes will return so in this case, it could be considered a lifelong condition.

If you are worried about watery eyes or your eye health, you can book a consultation with Mr Farooq by visiting his Top Doctors profile.