Watery eyes, or epiphora, are a very common symptom across the country. In fact, most people will experience it at some point in their lives, but it can be quite irritating when it feels like it’s constantly happening. We’ve been experiencing this ourselves, so we decided to learn why our eyes might be watering and how we (and you) can fix it.

Common Causes of Watery Eyes

First, we wanted to know what could be leading to our watery eyes. According to the Mayo Clinic, watery eyes are a symptom with many different potential catalysts. The common ones include:

• Allergies
  • Hay fever — a common allergic reaction with symptoms similar to the common cold
• Blepharitis — eyelid swelling
• Blocked tear duct
• Common cold
• Corneal scratch or ulcer
• Conjunctivitis — pink eye
• Ectropion — an outwardly turned eyelid
• Entropion —an inwardly turned eyelid
• Foreign object in the eye
• Keratitis — corneal swelling
• Occasional dry eye
• Stye
• Tear duct infection
• Trachoma
• Trichiasis — ingrown eyelash

Other Causes of Watery Eyes

While the above are the most common causes of epiphora, there are other, less common things that can trigger the watering of your eyes.

• Bell's palsy — a health concern characterized by sudden weakness on one side of the face
• Chronic sinusitis
• Inflamed blood vessels
• Injury — from a blunt trauma, burn, or chemical splash
• Some medications
  • Chemotherapy medicines
  • Eye drops — especially echothiophate iodide, pilocarpine (Isopto Carpine) and epinephrine
• Systemic health issues that can lead to swelling and pain
• Radiation therapy
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sjogren's syndrome — a health concern that can cause dry eyes and a dry mouth
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome — a rare health issue that affects the skin and mucous membranes
• Surgery of the eye or nose

Solutions for Watery Eyes

In some situations, your watery eyes may go away on their own. However, for those who continue to experience this nuisance symptom, here are a few options for relief:

• Eye drops — Often, eye drops can provide the kind of immediate cleansing/lubrication your eyes are looking for when they start watering. You can start simple with over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops, but sometimes, the issue requires a prescription solution.
• Antihistamines — If your eyes are watering due to an allergy of some kind, taking an antihistamine can provide relief. Though not as fast-acting as eye drops, these types of medications can suppress your body’s allergic reaction, therefore quelling the watering. Antihistamines can also be acquired OTC or through a prescription if the severity of the allergy requires it.
• EyePromise® EZ Tears™ — For a longer-lasting solution and addresses several of the common causes of eye watering, EyePromise EZ Tears is your answer! With 8 soothing ingredients, include ultra-purified high-quality TG Omega-3s, green tea leaf extract, and evening primrose oil, EZ Tears helps promote healthy tear production from the inside out. Again, it’s not as instant as eye drops, but with consistency, most people feel relief in as little as one week! While EyePromise EZ Tears is trusted by doctors, no prescription is needed, and it’s backed by a 30-day, money-back, satisfaction guarantee.

These are just a few things that are associated with the symptom of watery eyes. Talk with your eye doctor to dive deeper into why you might be experiencing it. You can also try one of the above OTC solutions to see if you can find relief.