Watering eyes

It's normal for your eyes to water in smoky environments or if you're outside in the cold or wind.

An eye injury or something in your eye, such as an eyelash or a piece of grit, can also make your eyes water.

Other causes of watering eyes include:

• blocked tear ducts (the small tubes that tears drain into)
• an allergy or infection (such as conjunctivitis)
• your eyelid drooping away from the eye (ectropion) or other eyelid problems
• dry eyes – this can cause your eyes to produce too many tears
• Bell's palsy – weakness to one side of the face that is usually temporary
• some medicines and cancer treatments

Babies sometimes have watering eyes because their tear ducts have not fully developed. It usually gets better by the time they're a few weeks old.

If you have watering eyes, you can ask a pharmacist about:

• what you can do to treat it yourself – such as cleaning and protecting your eyes
• what you can buy to help – such as cleaning solutions, eyedrops or allergy medicines
• if you need to see an optician or GP

• 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 have not got better with treatment from a pharmacist

Treatment may not be needed if your watering eyes are not causing problems.

If treatment is needed, it will depend on what the cause is.

For example:

• eye drops, gels, ointments or sprays can help if your eyes are dry
• antibiotic eye drops can help if you have an eye infection
• medicines can help if you have an allergy
• anything in your eye, like a piece of grit, can be removed
• a small operation may be needed if you have a problem with your eyelids or you have blocked tear ducts

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