Watery Eyes Treatment

Watery eyes (epiphora) is often the result of excess production of tears. Tears (a mixture of water and oil) is produced by the tear glands located below the eyelids. Although tears keep the eyes moist, excess of it can make the eyes watery. This is often accompanied by itchiness and redness in the eyes, indicating an eye infection.

Treatment options to relieve this eye problem are given next:

People, who are allergic to dust mite, dander, molds, cigarette smoke, may also show red, swollen, watery eyes. In such circumstances, using antihistamine ear drops is the best option. Taking an oral antihistamine half an hour before moving outdoors can also help to manage this eye condition.

When the person has dry eyes, the doctor may advice usage of artificial tears. When the glands found under the eyelids are unable to produce tears in sufficient amounts, it causes dry eyes. The dryness triggers a burning sensation in the eyes.

The excessive dryness in the eyes prompts the body to release too much of tears. This will continue as long as the dry eye problem is not resolved. To treat dry eyes, the doctor recommends artificial tears, which are nothing but lubricant eye drops.

Eye infection such as pink eye (conjunctivitis) and blepharitis can also turn the eyes watery. In case, bacteria are responsible for causing these infections, then using antibiotic eye drops is the first line of treatment. However, those not comfortable with administering eye drops may go for oral antibiotics.

Obstruction in tear ducts can also make the eyes watery frequently. As aforementioned, tear glands found underneath the eyelids produce tears to maintain adequate moisture in the eyes. Tear ducts are tubes that transport tear from the eye to the nose.

The tear duct moves excess water from the eyes to the nostrils. That is why a person experiences runny nose while crying. When the tear ducts are blocked, tears are unable to travel down the nose.

This blockage causes accumulation of tear in the eyes. As a result, the eyes appear watery for most of the time. In order to restore normal flow of tears between the eyes and the nose, the person may need a surgery.

The surgical procedure that is used to open blocked tear ducts is known as probing. In this procedure, a thin wire is introduced through the clogged tear duct to remove the obstruction. However, babies with blocked tear ducts usually do not require any surgery.

Poorly developed tear ducts are primarily responsible for causing epiphora in babies. Eventually, after a few months, without any treatment, the tear ducts in babies may become fully operational.

Eating foods that promote healthy eyes is equally important to stop excess production of tears. It is a known fact that foodstuffs like carrots, leafy green vegetables, egg yolk, fatty fish (salmon), and almonds help to maintain normal eyesight. So, including these foods in the diet, will assist to alleviate symptoms of this eye problem.

A point to note here is that rubbing the eyes can worsen this eye problem as bacteria from the hands may infect the eye, making it more difficult to manage this condition. Also, while taking any sort of treatment, avoid going outdoors, and use air conditioning systems at home to keep the surrounding environment clean.

Washing bed sheets on a regular basis is also necessary to minimize exposure to dust mites, whenever at home. Other precautionary measures like wearing sunglasses when traveling outside is equally important to prevent eye problems from aggravating.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.