02.04.2009
Description and Possible Medical Problems
Though midlife adults commonly complain of having dry eyes, eyes that water excessively are also frequently seen. When one or both eyes won’t stop watering, the problem can be caused by a number of conditions, most of which are easily treated.
Entropion is a condition in which the lower eyelid begins to droop and turns slightly inward because of the gradual loss of strength in the muscles that control the eye. When the lower lid sags, the eyelashes can irritate the eye, which may cause it to water excessively. Excessive tearing can also be caused by ectropion, a condition in which the lower eyelid turns outward. In this case, the tears that lubricate the inside of the lower lid are unable to drain into the tear duct. As a result, they’ll run out of your eyes and down your cheek.
The nasolacrimal ducts of the eye serve to drain your tears from the eye into the nose. Sometimes these ducts can become blocked as a result of an infection, which again means that your tears have nowhere to go except down your face.
Some people’s eyes tend to water more in cold weather. This is actually a sign that your eyes are healthy and reacting normally.
Treatment
Eyes that water excessively are an easy condition to treat. Both ectropion and entropion can be treated with a minor surgical procedure in which your doctor will tighten the muscles of the lids, which will prevent them from turning either outward or inward. When excessive watering is caused by a blocked tear duct, it can be opened manually or with surgery if the blockage is extensive. At the same time, it’s important to treat any existing infection with medication to be sure that the blockage doesn’t recur.
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