Treatment
The treatment of excessive tearing usually requires a visit to an eye doctor. One should never let an ordinary GP or a family physician muck around with your eyes. An expert eye doctor can easily find the cause of excessive tearing in a few minutes. Sometimes the physician may place a drop of a colored dye on the eye and see how it drains. In almost all cases, excessive tearing is resolved when the offending agent is removed.
If an infection is present, you will be given an antibiotic. Other causes may require use of steroid drops. Often simple massage of the tear duct can loosen up the junk and clear the duct. For a dry eye, one may require artificial eye drops or warm compress.
If the blocked duct persists, the physician may have to probe the duct with a small metal wire to open the passageway. This is a painless procedure done in a doctor’s office and does not take long. If the blocked duct is recurrent, one may need surgery and a small tube is inserted to keep the duct open.
All individuals who have excessive tearing with alterations in vision should see an eye doctor promptly.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Why do I tear excessively (epiphora?)
All healthy individuals have wet eyes because of the constant secretion of fluid from the lacrimal glands located on the outer edge of the eye under the eyebrow. Tears form to keep the eyes moist and then drain down on the inside of the nose.
While tearing is common when some is crying, there are some individuals who tear constantly. Epiphora or Excessive tearing is a medical disorder that results when tears spill out of the eye even when one is not crying. Depending on the cause, symptoms of excessive tearing many be
a. a red eye
b. pain
c. low grade fever
d. swelling around the eyes
The most common cause of excessive tearing is a dry eye. A dry eye syndrome occurs when there are too few tears produced or the tears rapidly blow away. When the eye senses dryness, it responds by making more tears.
There are many other causes of excessive tearing and they include the following:
Normally tears from eyes drain through small holes located on the nasal side of the eye. Tears drain through these holes and enter the nose. Sometimes ducts at the entrance of the nose can be blocked and tears fall on the cheeks. The ducts may be blocked at birth from
- excessive mucus build up
- ingrown eye lashes
- an infection which causes thick viscous fluid
- certain medications
- a traumatic injury
- repeated and frequent exposure to allergens,
dust and pollutants that irritate the eyes
- a stye
While tearing is common when some is crying, there are some individuals who tear constantly. Epiphora or Excessive tearing is a medical disorder that results when tears spill out of the eye even when one is not crying. Depending on the cause, symptoms of excessive tearing many be
a. a red eye
b. pain
c. low grade fever
d. swelling around the eyes
The most common cause of excessive tearing is a dry eye. A dry eye syndrome occurs when there are too few tears produced or the tears rapidly blow away. When the eye senses dryness, it responds by making more tears.
There are many other causes of excessive tearing and they include the following:
Normally tears from eyes drain through small holes located on the nasal side of the eye. Tears drain through these holes and enter the nose. Sometimes ducts at the entrance of the nose can be blocked and tears fall on the cheeks. The ducts may be blocked at birth from
- excessive mucus build up
- ingrown eye lashes
- an infection which causes thick viscous fluid
- certain medications
- a traumatic injury
- repeated and frequent exposure to allergens,
dust and pollutants that irritate the eyes
- a stye
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