Watery Eyes: What Are They Trying to Tell You?

Do your eyes feel moister than you feel they should?

If you have red, watery eyes, the cause could stem from several things. If it’s from an external irritant, your eyes’ reaction could be completely normal.

Tears help soothe our eyes, keeping them lubricated. If we encounter dust or smoke, your eyes provide a defense in the line of tears. But what if you’re finding you have constant watery eyes, even when you change your surroundings?

Let’s go through the possible causes of this and what you can do to help.

If you have red and watery eyes, one of the prime culprits could be an allergy. Even if you didn’t experience allergies as a child, our bodies change as we grow older, and what’s fine one year, may change the next.

A change in your surroundings could also trigger an allergic reaction.

This wouldn’t have to include moving to an area high in pollen or ragweed; the cause could be more subtle. Ask yourself these questions:

• Did you recently move into new housing?
• Did any of your friends recently acquire a new pet?
• Have you started a new job?

Each of these could bring new irritants to your eyes.

A new house or apartment—even on that appears very clean—could be hiding something to make your eyes watery. A new job in the office could be blowing air on your eyes, drying them out and causing them to work overtime in keeping the moisture level up. And a new friends’ pet could be bringing small traces of hair or dander to your eyes—even if you aren’t visiting your friend’s home.

If none of these fit your situation, there are other possibilities to your excessive watery eyes. Age is one to consider.

As we get older, the quality of our tears decreases. You see, tears are more than just water. Our body creates a mixture that’s blended to keep our eyes lubricated. If your eyes aren’t receiving the moisture they need, they can overcompensate in forming tears—hence the watery eyes.

If this is a chronic condition, your doctor can inform you of the options that may be able to help. Taking action is important.

Your cause of watery eyes could stem from something that’s easily fixed, so there’s no reason to put off fixing it. Even if your condition requires surgery, it’s usually an outpatient procedure. Why not take care of it early and better enjoy your life?