Why are my eyes watering?

YOUR eyes can start watering for a whole host of reasons. Sometimes its an indication you might be unwell, or you’ve simply got something in there that’s irritating them. It can be quite annoying when your eyes won’t stop welling up, however. Here we have got some of the reasons why you might be dabbing […]

YOUR eyes can start watering for a whole host of reasons.

Sometimes its an indication you might be unwell, or you’ve simply got something in there that’s irritating them.

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Watering eyes can be a bother, but quite often will sort themselves out[/caption]

It can be quite annoying when your eyes won’t stop welling up, however.

Here we have got some of the reasons why you might be dabbing at them, and how to stem the flow.

Why are my eyes watering?

If you are in a smoky environment or in the cold and wind it’s perfectly normal for your eyes to water.

Getting something in your eye, like an eyelash, bug or grit, will also cause that reaction.

As soon as you blink it out or haul it out with a clean finger, the water should stop.

But sometimes, watering eyes can be cause by conditions such as:

• an allergy or infection (conjunctivitis)
• blocked tear ducts (small tubes that tears drain into)
• your eyelid drooping away from the eye (ectropion) or your eyelid turning inwards (entropion)
• dry eye syndrome – this can cause your eyes to produce too many tears

Babies can also often have watery eyes because their tear ducts are smaller.

This usually eases by the time they are about one.

How do you treat watery eyes?

If the watering is not bothering you or your eye doesn’t feel uncomfortable, you can just let it pass.

It should ease fairly quickly and stop on its own.

But if treatment is needed, it will depend on what the cause is.

• eyedrops can help if your eyes are dry or infected
• medicines can help if you have an allergy
• anything in your eye, like a piece of grit, can be removed
• a small operation may be needed if you have a problem with your eyelids or you have blocked tear ducts

But if you don’t know what the cause is, it’s best to visit your local pharmacy.

Or if you have been bothered by the problem for a day or two, speak to your doctor.