Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesHome RemediesOTC MedicationsPrescription MedicationsWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Home Remedies
OTC Medications
Prescription Medications
When to See a Provider
Watery eyes, also known asepiphora, is a common disorder that can sometimes get better without treatment. It can occur if your eyes produce too many tears or if they do not drain properly, and it can happen for a variety of reasons.
MICROGEN IMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images
What Causes Watery Eyes?
Dry Eyes
Even though youreyes are dry, they can cause watery eyes. That’s because the eyes are irritated, and the tears produceddon’t have the right composition of componentsto soothe the surface properly. So, the eye may make even more tears in response.
Environmental Causes
Outdoor air pollution can irritate the eye’s surface and change the composition of the tears, worsening dry eyes and causingwatery eyes. Likewise, indoors, tobacco smoke, cooking with oil, and emissions from building materials or decorations like new rugs can causeeye irritationand related tearing.
Makeup Irritation
Certain makeup can also irritate the eyes. Glitter or sparkly power can flake off onto the eye’s surface, as can makeup or face paint applied too close to the lash line. Likewise, false eyelashes, if not applied properly, can cause irritation and, in turn, watering. Any makeup around the eye should also be removed before bed each night.
Foreign Object in the Eye
Even a small particle on the eye’s surface or under the lid, like a grain of sand, can cause tearing. Other foreign objects that may get lodged here include twigs, leaves, and metal particles, which can cause the eye to water.
While you may be able to flush a small particle out with water, an eye specialist (ophthalmologist or optometrist) shouldremove anything embedded in the eye.
Tear-Production Complications
The tear film, which protects the eye’s surface, is composed of three layers: lipid, aqueous and mucin. A deficiency in any of these can lead to dry eye disease, which can cause irritation and eye-watering.
Themeibomian glandsproduce the outer oil layer of tears. If this layer is insufficient, the tears will evaporate too quickly, leading to dry eyes and related irritation.
Likewise, if thelacrimal gland, which produces the aqueous layer, isn’t functioning properly, enough tears will not be made, and dry eyes will occur.
If goblet cells on theconjunctiva(lining of the eyelids and white of the eye) are affected, the mucin layer will also be affected. This layer helps to spread mucin across the eye’s surface.
Allergies
Anyone who has allergies can also quickly develop teary eyes.Histamine and other inflammatory substances are releasedwhen people are exposed to substances they are allergic to, like pollen, mold, or dust mites. The conjunctiva lining the eyelids swells, causing the eye to become teary and red. This kind of allergic reaction is known asallergic conjunctivitis.
Eye Infections
If you have an eye infection, you may also experience tearing.Infectious conjunctivitis, commonly called pink eye, is a viral or bacterial infection of the conjunctiva. Excessive tearing is common, in addition to light sensitivity, a foreign body sensation in the eye, and discharge.
Other Eye Conditions
Various other conditions can cause your eyes to water, such as the following:
How to Stop Watery Eyes at Home
Use a Warm Compress
Depending on the cause of watery eyes, a warm compress may be the answer. For example, if dry eye is causing your eyes to tear, applying a warm compress may help relieve this. The heat can help unclog glands and release oil into the tear film, keeping the eye’s surface moist.
You can make your own compress with a small towel or washcloth dipped in warm, not hot, water and wrung out. Or, you can purchase commercially available compresses.
Try a Humidifier
If your watery eyes are due to dryness, ahumidifiermay bring relief. This device adds moisture to the air, which can keep your tear film from evaporating as quickly and ease discomfort.
Reduce Digital Eye Strain
Eye tearing is one of the hallmarks ofcomputer eye strain. To prevent this, consider doing the following:
Take a Break From Contact Lenses
If you wear contact lenses, your eyes may get particularly teary. Contact lens use is a risk factor for dry eye disease because it affects the tear film.Contact lenses can reduce the amount of tears and their thickness.
If you have watery eyes, limiting the number of hours you wear your contacts or removing them for a while may be helpful.
Protect Your Eyes
Getting a foreign object in the eye can lead to profuse tearing. While this can be treated, prevention is preferable. Wear protective goggles to prevent shards of material from getting in your eye when you use tools, such as when sawing, hammering, or drilling.
Allergy Medications
Over-the-counter allergy medications are available:
Lubricating Eye Drops
You may also find relief withartificial tears, which moisten eyes and help flush away allergens (normally harmless substances that trigger allergies in some people). These drops are used as needed and offer temporary relief.
Medicated Eye Drops
Some medicated drops that your healthcare provider may prescribe include the following:
Antibiotic Eye Drops
In cases of a bacterial eye infection, eye specialists such as an ophthalmologist or optometrist may prescribe antibiotic drops. This may be the case if you have bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) or a contact lens–related infection.
Antibiotics
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Most of the time, watery eyes are an inconvenience that you can treat on your own. However, seek immediate help for tearing when the following occurs:
Summary
Contact a healthcare provider if you have had an eye injury, vision changes, bleeding, discharge, or the issue has been long-term without a known cause.
20 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NHS.Watering eyes.Moorefields Eye Hospital.Ephiphora (watering eye).American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is dry eye: symptoms, causes, and treatment.Lin CC, Chiu CC, Lee PY, et al.The adverse effects of air pollution on the eye: a review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1186. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031186American Academy of Ophthalmology.How to use cosmetics safely around your eyes.Richmond Eye Associates, P.C.Sensation that something is in the eye.UConn Health.Dry eye center.Mount Sinai.Allergic conjunctivitis.Penn Medicine.Conjunctivitis (pink eye).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal eye infections.Ohio State.Causes of eye watering.NHS.Ectropian.Columbia University.Warm compresses for eye problems.inVision Ophthalmology.Will humidifiers help reduce dry eye symptoms?Cedars Sinai.Computer vision syndrome.Review of Optometry.How contact lenses contribute to dry eye.American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunlogy.Eye allergy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Improved dry eye drugs for 2022 and beyond.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Antibiotic eye drops.Mount Sinai.Watery eyes.
20 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NHS.Watering eyes.Moorefields Eye Hospital.Ephiphora (watering eye).American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is dry eye: symptoms, causes, and treatment.Lin CC, Chiu CC, Lee PY, et al.The adverse effects of air pollution on the eye: a review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1186. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031186American Academy of Ophthalmology.How to use cosmetics safely around your eyes.Richmond Eye Associates, P.C.Sensation that something is in the eye.UConn Health.Dry eye center.Mount Sinai.Allergic conjunctivitis.Penn Medicine.Conjunctivitis (pink eye).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal eye infections.Ohio State.Causes of eye watering.NHS.Ectropian.Columbia University.Warm compresses for eye problems.inVision Ophthalmology.Will humidifiers help reduce dry eye symptoms?Cedars Sinai.Computer vision syndrome.Review of Optometry.How contact lenses contribute to dry eye.American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunlogy.Eye allergy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Improved dry eye drugs for 2022 and beyond.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Antibiotic eye drops.Mount Sinai.Watery eyes.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
NHS.Watering eyes.Moorefields Eye Hospital.Ephiphora (watering eye).American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is dry eye: symptoms, causes, and treatment.Lin CC, Chiu CC, Lee PY, et al.The adverse effects of air pollution on the eye: a review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1186. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031186American Academy of Ophthalmology.How to use cosmetics safely around your eyes.Richmond Eye Associates, P.C.Sensation that something is in the eye.UConn Health.Dry eye center.Mount Sinai.Allergic conjunctivitis.Penn Medicine.Conjunctivitis (pink eye).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal eye infections.Ohio State.Causes of eye watering.NHS.Ectropian.Columbia University.Warm compresses for eye problems.inVision Ophthalmology.Will humidifiers help reduce dry eye symptoms?Cedars Sinai.Computer vision syndrome.Review of Optometry.How contact lenses contribute to dry eye.American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunlogy.Eye allergy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Improved dry eye drugs for 2022 and beyond.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Antibiotic eye drops.Mount Sinai.Watery eyes.
NHS.Watering eyes.
Moorefields Eye Hospital.Ephiphora (watering eye).
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is dry eye: symptoms, causes, and treatment.
Lin CC, Chiu CC, Lee PY, et al.The adverse effects of air pollution on the eye: a review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1186. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031186
American Academy of Ophthalmology.How to use cosmetics safely around your eyes.
Richmond Eye Associates, P.C.Sensation that something is in the eye.
UConn Health.Dry eye center.
Mount Sinai.Allergic conjunctivitis.
Penn Medicine.Conjunctivitis (pink eye).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal eye infections.
Ohio State.Causes of eye watering.
NHS.Ectropian.
Columbia University.Warm compresses for eye problems.
inVision Ophthalmology.Will humidifiers help reduce dry eye symptoms?
Cedars Sinai.Computer vision syndrome.
Review of Optometry.How contact lenses contribute to dry eye.
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunlogy.Eye allergy.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Improved dry eye drugs for 2022 and beyond.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Antibiotic eye drops.
Mount Sinai.Watery eyes.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
