Watery Eyes and Dry Eyes: Why Can Dry Eyes Make Your Eyes Water?
Watery eyes and dry eyes sound like complete opposites. If your eyes are streaming with tears, being told they might actually be dry can seem rather strange.
But excessive watering can sometimes be associated with dry eye.
The reason is that healthy tears are more complicated than simply having enough water in your eyes. Your tears form a carefully balanced tear film that protects and lubricates the surface of the eye.
If that tear film becomes unstable or evaporates too quickly, the surface of the eye can become irritated. Your eyes may respond by producing a sudden flood of watery reflex tears.
So, strangely enough, eyes that feel watery can sometimes be eyes that aren't being lubricated effectively.
Why Do Watery Eyes and Dry Eyes Happen Together?
A healthy tear film coats the surface of the eye every time you blink.
If that tear film breaks up too quickly, parts of the eye's surface can become exposed and irritated between blinks.
Your body recognises that irritation and responds in one of the most obvious ways it can:
It produces more tears.
The problem is that these reflex tears may be very watery. They can run down your cheeks without necessarily solving the underlying problem with the tear film.
That's why someone can genuinely say:
“My eyes are watering all the time.”
…and still have symptoms associated with dry eye.
Not All Tears Are the Same
We tend to think of tears as salty water, but the tear film is much more sophisticated than that.
It contains components that work together to keep the surface of your eyes comfortable, smooth and protected.
One particularly important component is the oily layer of the tear film.
This oil is produced mainly by tiny glands within the eyelids called the meibomian glands.
The oil helps slow down evaporation of the tears.
If the meibomian glands aren't functioning effectively, there may not be enough good-quality oil reaching the tear film. The tears can then evaporate too quickly.
This is one of the common mechanisms involved in evaporative dry eye.
And once again, irritation caused by that unstable tear film can trigger watering.
Why Do My Eyes Water Outside?
Some people find their eyes are relatively comfortable indoors but start streaming as soon as they go outside.
Wind and cold air can increase evaporation from the surface of the eye and trigger reflex tearing.
That's why you may find yourself walking along on a cold or windy day with tears running down your face even though you're not upset.
For somebody with an already unstable tear film, the effect can be particularly noticeable.
Wraparound glasses or sunglasses can sometimes help by providing a degree of protection from moving air.
Can Heating and Air Conditioning Cause Watery Eyes?
They can certainly contribute to eye-surface discomfort.
Central heating, fans and air conditioning can all create environments where tears evaporate more quickly.
You may therefore notice symptoms particularly in:
heated offices
air-conditioned rooms
cars with the blowers directed towards your face
aeroplanes
very dry indoor environments
Moving the direction of a fan or car vent away from your face can be a surprisingly simple change.
What Do Screens Have to Do With Dry Eyes?
Screens themselves aren't necessarily the problem.
How we blink while using them can be.
When we're concentrating on a computer, tablet or phone, our blinking behaviour can change. We may blink less frequently or incompletely.
Blinking isn't just something your eyelids do automatically — it's an important part of maintaining the tear film.
A good complete blink helps spread fresh tears across the eye and helps the meibomian glands release their oils.
Long periods of concentrated screen use can therefore contribute to symptoms in some people.
Taking regular breaks and remembering to blink fully can help
.
What Other Symptoms Can Dry Eye Cause?
Dry eye doesn't feel the same for everyone.
As well as watery eyes, people may experience:
burning or stinging
a gritty or sandy sensation
redness
tired or uncomfortable eyes
intermittent blurred vision
sensitivity to light
a feeling that something is in the eye
discomfort that becomes worse later in the day
Some people barely describe their eyes as feeling “dry” at all.
Their main complaint may simply be that their eyes won't stop watering.
Are Watery Eyes Always Caused by Dry Eye?
No — and this is important.
There are several possible reasons for excessive watering, and dry eye is only one of them.
Watering can also be associated with allergies, infection, inflammation, eyelid problems, eyelashes rubbing against the eye, foreign bodies or problems with the normal drainage of tears.
Sometimes the issue isn't that the eye is producing too many tears at all — it's that those tears aren't draining away normally.
This is why repeatedly treating a watery eye as dry eye without understanding what's causing it isn't always helpful.
Why Does Only One Eye Water?
This is another useful clue.
Dry-eye symptoms don't necessarily affect both eyes equally, but persistent watering from one eye in particular can have other causes.
For example, there may be a problem affecting the eyelids or the normal tear-drainage pathway.
If one eye persistently waters much more than the other, particularly if this is new, it's sensible to have it assessed rather than simply assuming it's dry eye.
Can Artificial Tears Help Watery Eyes?
Sometimes — but choosing the appropriate approach depends on why your eyes are watering.
Lubricating eye drops can help some forms of dry eye, but there are many different formulations available.
If the underlying problem involves excessive evaporation and the oily component of the tear film, for example, the most appropriate management may differ from someone whose eyes are dry for another reason.
That's why simply buying the first bottle labelled “dry eyes” isn't necessarily the best long-term approach if symptoms persist.
What About Warm Compresses?
Where meibomian gland dysfunction is contributing to the problem, a warm compress may form part of the management plan.
Heat can help soften the oils within the meibomian glands, while appropriate lid massage can help encourage those oils towards the eyelid margin.
The important word here is warm, rather than excessively hot.
And you don't need to scrub the eyelids with baby shampoo. Modern eyelid-care products are available when lid cleansing is appropriate.
When Should Watery Eyes Be Checked?
Occasional watering in the wind isn't usually something to be concerned about.
But it's worth seeking advice if your eyes are persistently watering, uncomfortable or affecting your vision, particularly if symptoms aren't improving.
More urgent assessment is appropriate for symptoms such a
s significant eye pain, marked redness, sudden changes in vision, significant light sensitivity or an eye injury.
The important point is not to assume that every watery eye has the same cause.
Watery Eyes and Dry Eyes: Not Such a Contradiction After All
So, can watery eyes and dry eyes really occur together?
Yes.
If the tear film isn't adequately protecting and lubricating the surface of the eye, irritation can trigger the production of watery reflex tears.
Those extra tears may make your eyes stream, but they don't necessarily correct the reason the tear film became unstable in the first place.
So the next time somebody says:
“My eyes can't possibly be dry — they're watering all the time!”
…the answer might just be:
That's exactly why they're watering.
Dry Eye Advice at Parkhurst and Co
If you're experiencing persistent watery eyes, dry eyes or eye discomfort, understanding the cause is an important first step.
At Parkhurst and Co Styling Opticians, we can examine the eyes and eyelids, consider your symptoms and advise on appropriate management or further investigation where necessary.
Link: Make Dry Eye link to your existing Dry Eye page.
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