Watery eyes: causes, diagnosis and treatment guide

Worried about your symptoms? Talk to a doctor.

Watery eyes happen when your eyes produce more tears than your tear ducts can drain away, or when tears can't drain properly. It's a common symptom that often gets better on its own, though it can sometimes need treatment if it's affecting your daily life.

What causes watery eyes?

Watery eyes can happen because your eyes are producing too many tears, or because your tear ducts aren't draining them away properly.

Weather and environment – smoke, wind, cold, dust, bright light or sunshine can all make your eyes water
Something in your eye – such as an eyelash, a piece of grit, or a chemical or foreign object
Dry eye syndrome – dryness irritates your eyes, triggering them to produce extra tears as a reflex
An allergy or infection – such as conjunctivitis
Blocked or narrowed tear ducts – the small tubes that tears normally drain into
Eyelid problems – such as your eyelid turning inwards or outwards (entropion or ectropion), an ingrown eyelash, or blepharitis (inflamed eyelid rims)
Bell's palsy – temporary weakness to one side of the face, which causes difficulty or total inability to close the eye on the affected side.
Some medicines and cancer treatments

Are there different types of watery eyes?

Watery eyes are broadly caused by one of two problems, making too many tears, or not draining them away properly, and telling the two apart can help point to the cause.

Too many tears (over-production): Often triggered by irritation, dryness, allergies, or something in your eye – this is very common and often improves once the trigger is dealt with
Poor drainage: Tears are made normally but can't drain away, for example because of a blocked or narrowed tear duct, or an eyelid that doesn't sit against your eye properly – this tends to be more persistent
Temporary watering: Everyone's eyes water briefly with strong emotions, laughing, coughing, vomiting, yawning or strong tastes; this isn't a cause for concern.

Watering can also become more common simply with age, as the eyelids lose some of their tone and become less efficient at pumping tears away.

How are watery eyes diagnosed?

A pharmacist can often help with mild watery eyes and advise whether you need to see an optician or GP. If you do see a GP, they'll examine your eyes and ask about your symptoms.

Physical examination – of your eyes, eyelids and the area around them
A test to check how well fluid passes through your tear ducts

If the GP cannot find what's causing your eyes to water, they may refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for further tests.

How are watery eyes treated?

Treatment may not be needed if your watering eyes aren't causing problems, and mild cases are often simply monitored to see if they improve on their own. If treatment is needed, it depends on the cause.

Dry eyes: Eye drops, gels, ointments or sprays to lubricate your eyes
An allergy: Allergy medicines or eye drops
An infection: Antibiotic eye drops, if the infection is bacterial in nature.
Something in your eye: Removing the object
Blocked tear ducts: A warm, wet compress can help, and a small operation may be needed for a blockage that doesn't clear up; the usual procedure is called a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), which creates a new drainage route for your tears
An eyelid problem: A small operation may be needed to correct the position of your eyelid

If your watering is linked to wind, dust or bright light, simple steps such as wearing wraparound sunglasses outdoors, using a humidifier indoors, and taking breaks from smoky or dusty environments may help.

When should you see a doctor?

See a GP if:

Your eyes keep watering and it's stopping you doing everyday activities
Your eyelid is turning inwards or drooping away from your eye
You have any lumps or swellings around your eyes that haven't got better with treatment from a pharmacist.

Get an urgent GP appointment, or call 111, if you have watery eyes along with:

Any changes to your vision, such as loss of vision
Severe eye pain
Redness, swelling or discharge that isn't improving
Unexplained bruising around your eye.

FAQs

Why do dry eyes cause watering?

It might sound contradictory, but dry eyes are one of the most common causes of watery eyes. When your eyes don't have enough lubrication, they become irritated, which triggers a reflex to produce extra tears – those tears often aren't the right consistency to properly soothe the dryness, so the cycle continues.
Will watery eyes get better on their own?

Often, yes. Many cases are temporary, caused by something like wind, smoke or a minor irritation, and settle down once the trigger has passed or been removed. Persistent watering that doesn't improve, or that's affecting your daily life, is worth getting checked.
Can watery eyes affect babies?

Yes. Babies sometimes have watery eyes because their tear ducts haven't fully developed, and this usually gets better by the time they're a few weeks old, without needing treatment.
What is a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR)?

A DCR is an operation to create a new drainage route for tears when a tear duct is blocked and hasn't cleared up with simpler treatment. It's generally only considered if watering is significantly affecting your daily life, or if you've had an infection linked to the blockage.
Can I do anything myself to reduce watery eyes?

Simple steps can help, such as wearing wraparound sunglasses in windy conditions, using a humidifier indoors, taking breaks from smoky or dusty environments, and cleaning and protecting your eyes as advised by a pharmacist. See a GP if these don't help or your symptoms are getting worse.

Watery eyes