Watery eyes (lacrimation) – causes, treatment and prevention

Watery eyes or lacrimation is a term that means that eyes – for whatever reason – water more than normal. Tears are a saline fluid secreted by the tear ducts. The main purpose of the tear fluid is to clean the conjunctival sac and keep the cornea moist.

Daily tear production varies greatly from person to person. Depending on external stimuli (e.g. foreign bodies in the eye, sleep-wake phase, computer work, crying, laughing, yawning, etc.), the normal daily tear volume (1.5 and 2.5 ml) can quickly be exceeded. If tears continue to flow for no apparent reason, an ophthalmologist should be consulted.

causes

There are various reasons for watery eyes:Irritation from environmental influences

Exhaust fumes, soot, dust particles, cold air, bright light sources, drafts, low humidity, poor air quality, regular computer work can irritate the eyes and excessively activate tears.

Dry eyes

One of the most common causes – even if you wouldn’t expect it from the name – is dry eyes . The eyes can become irritated and water excessively if the air in the room is too dry – especially in winter when the air is heated – or hormonal causes.

corneal injuries

One of the most common causes of watery eyes is injury or irritation of the cornea by foreign bodies. The eye tries to protect itself by constantly producing tears to get rid of the foreign body. Tear production then subsides when the irritation is stopped.

Poor composition of the tear fluid

Our tears are made up of protein and a protective lipid layer on top of the tear film. If lipid production is disturbed, the composition of the tear fluid is disturbed and either too much or too little tear fluid is formed.

conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is most often a result of prolonged irritation of the eye, but it can also be the result of a viral or bacterial infection. Then treatment is necessary.

One of the less common causes is obstruction of the tear ducts, which is more common in young children. Uncorrected ametropia can also overstrain the eyes and lead to tears. Sometimes sudden, very bright light can activate tears. And last but not least, eyes also tear when yawning or laughing, although this is not pathological.

When to the doctor?

As a rule, watery eyes do not represent any particular complication and do not necessarily have to be treated by a doctor. They often occur when a foreign body has gotten into the eye and the eye then tries to remove the foreign body with tears. In this case, there is no need to see a doctor. The watery eyes then usually disappear within a few minutes. Under no circumstances should the person concerned rub their eyes. This only increases the tearing.

There is also no need to see a doctor if the flow of tears has an emotional trigger. In this case, the tears are a normal reaction of the body to a sad experience. A doctor should be consulted if other symptoms appear in addition to the watery eyes or if the watery eyes do not go away on their own. These include, for example, symptoms such as headaches or a loss of visual acuity. These may be other diseases that must be examined by a doctor in any case.

diagnosis and course

Watery eyes over a long period of time are uncomfortable for everyone and lead to seeing an ophthalmologist. They are usually linked to a visual impairment.

If the irritation is caused by a foreign body, the ophthalmologist examines the eyes and carefully removes the foreign body. The eyes are examined in detail and, if necessary, an eye test is carried out to determine the degree of limitation. The doctor then makes the diagnosis and prescribes suitable medication for healing.

complications

At first glance, watery eyes are not a clinical picture that absolutely needs to be treated by a doctor. However, watery eyes can also lead to various complications that should not be taken lightly. A particularly heavy tearing eye can be a sign of a foreign object in the eye. In such a case, extreme caution is required, because a foreign body in the eye can cause serious and even permanent consequential damage. For this reason, the person concerned must under no circumstances remove the foreign body themselves. Only a doctor should perform such a removal. Otherwise, the affected person can severely damage the eye.

If there is an infection in the eye , there is of course a risk of various complications. If an infection in the eye remains completely without medication or medical care, the existing infection can worsen considerably. Under certain circumstances, pus may form, so that a doctor should be consulted at the latest. In the worst case, there is even a risk of blood poisoning if the existing viruses or bacteria get into the bloodstream. In general, the following applies: Since the eye is a very sensitive human organ, a doctor should be consulted immediately when the first symptoms appear. This is the only way to avoid serious complications.

treatment and therapy

Treatment for watery eyes depends on the cause. If it is a foreign body, removing it and prescribing soothing eye drops is usually sufficient. If the eyes are overstrained, visual acuity is checked and new lens strengths are prescribed to relieve the eyes.

Depending on the cause, dry eyes can be treated with appropriate drops or by eliminating the cause of the irritation. Sometimes they can be caused by hormones, in which case the tear fluid that is no longer available in the body has to be replaced, especially in the cold season with dry heating air. In other cases, it is enough to avoid the cause of the irritation.

Conjunctivitis caused by a virus can heal on its own, but can also be treated with soothing eye drops or chamomile compresses. Bacterial conjunctivitis is usually treated with antibiotic drops to prevent complications and damage to the eye. If tear ducts are blocked, they must be surgically reopened if nothing else is possible.

In the case of corneal injuries, the cornea is treated and, depending on the severity, the eye is immobilized with an eye patch to avoid additional irritation. The ophthalmologist then monitors the course of treatment.

prevention

There are a number of preventive measures to avoid dry and watery eyes, although you can’t protect yourself from everything.

If the tear flow is caused by environmental stimuli, it usually helps to avoid the irritating environment, e.g. B. smoky rooms or pollutants.For dry eyes – especially if they are caused by dry heating air in winter – it helps to be in the fresh air regularly and to increase the humidity in the rooms by placing a source of moisture near the heating, e.g. B. Evaporator.

With other humidifiers, care must be taken to ensure that they are cleaned regularly, otherwise they tend to encourage infections.

Corneal injuries can often be avoided by wearing safety goggles for certain tasks or by working away from the eye.

Irritation from glasses that are too weak can be avoided by having your eyes examined in good time as soon as you notice a deterioration in your vision. Especially those who work a lot on the computer should have them checked regularly, if necessary take sufficient breaks from the screen work.