How to Stop Excessive Tearing

Excessive tearing can be uncomfortable and is caused by various factors, from allergies to infections. Regardless of the cause, there are several methods to help stop your tears. Common solutions include washing the eyes, using eye drops, and applying warm compresses. Additionally, seeking help from a doctor can help diagnose the problem and suggest appropriate treatments. You can also prevent excessive tearing by wearing glasses, sunglasses, or using separate makeup tools.

Ensure there are no foreign objects in your eyes. Any foreign object trapped inside can cause your eyes to tear. Avoid using your fingers or tweezers to remove it. Instead, rinse your eyes.

• To rinse your eyes, use clean hands to gently hold your eyes open under a stream of warm water. Alternatively, you can shower and allow the water to flow over your forehead while keeping your eyes open as it runs down your face. You can also rinse your eyes with an eye wash station or a dedicated eye cup.
• Do not rub your eyes if you suspect a foreign object is inside. Rubbing your eyes can lead to eye injury.

Use Eye Drops or 'Artificial Tears'. While it may sound counterintuitive, using eye drops can actually help stop excessive tearing. Eye drops are especially effective when tears are a result of dry eyes. These drops help moisturize and lubricate the eyes, reducing tear production. How to use eye drops:

• Lean your head back and gently pull down your lower eyelid. Hold the eye drop bottle 2.5-5 cm away from your eye, making sure the tip doesn't touch your eye.
• Place three drops (or as directed by your doctor) into your eye by squeezing the bottle and allowing each drop to fall in. Use the 'artificial tears' every 4 hours or as needed.

Remove Contact Lenses. If your eyes continue to tear, you should remove your contact lenses. Contacts can exacerbate tearing and may prevent eye drops from being effective. It's advisable to consult an optometrist if you believe your contacts are causing excessive tearing.

• Follow your optometrist's instructions for contact lens hygiene. For single-use lenses, do not reuse them. Dispose of them after each wear.
• Do not wear contact lenses while sleeping unless directed by your optometrist.
• Avoid wearing contact lenses while swimming or showering.

Apply a Warm Compress to Soothe Irritated Eyes. A warm compress can help clear debris around the eyes and may help release any blockages in the tear ducts. It also helps alleviate redness and irritation caused by excessive tearing. To use a warm compress, soak a clean cloth under warm or hot water, wring out the excess water, and then place the cloth over your eyes. Lie down and keep the compress on for about 5-10 minutes.

Consult a Doctor About Antihistamines for Tear Production Due to Allergies. Sometimes, excessive tearing can be caused by an allergic reaction. Taking antihistamine or allergy medication can help reduce eye irritation caused by allergies. However, if your tearing isn't due to allergies, antihistamines won't be effective. You should consult your doctor if you're unsure whether your excessive tearing is allergy-related.

• The most common antihistamine is Diphenhydramine in capsule form, taken orally. Adults typically need to take 25-50 mg of Diphenhydramine every 4-6 hours. If the medication upsets your stomach, you can take it with milk or food.
• The main side effect of antihistamines is drowsiness. Avoid driving or operating machinery while taking antihistamines.

Consult your doctor regarding antibiotics. If your doctor suspects that your watery eyes are due to an infection, they may prescribe antibiotics. Bacterial infections tend to respond well to antibiotics. However, if the cause is viral, doctors usually refrain from prescribing medication and will recommend waiting a week to see if the condition improves on its own.

• A commonly prescribed antibiotic for watery eyes is Tobramycin. Tobramycin is an eye drop solution specifically formulated to treat eye infections. Follow your doctor's instructions by applying one drop of Tobramycin to the affected eye twice daily for seven days—once in the morning and once at night before bed.

Review the medications you're currently taking. Some medications may cause watery eyes as a side effect. Be sure to read the labels of your prescribed medications carefully, and consult your doctor if you're uncertain. If watery eyes are a persistent side effect, you may want to ask your doctor for an alternative. Never stop taking any prescribed medication without your doctor's approval. Some medications that could cause watery eyes include:

• Epinephrine
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Cholinergic agonists
• Certain eye drops like Echothiophate iodide and Pilocarpine

Discuss other potential causes with your doctor. Several medical conditions can lead to watery eyes. If you're unable to pinpoint the cause on your own, consider seeking help from a doctor. Some conditions that may result in watery eyes include:

• Blepharitis
• Blocked tear duct
• Common cold
• Inward-growing eyelashes
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Consult with an ophthalmologist regarding treatment procedures. If you experience frequent watery eyes due to a blocked tear duct, you may need to undergo eye irrigation, stent placement, or surgery to clear the obstruction. These options are generally considered when less invasive treatments have failed, or when the condition is chronic.

• Eye Duct Expansion. This procedure is performed when tears cannot properly drain through the tear duct. The ophthalmologist will numb the affected eye and use a tool to widen the opening of the tear duct to allow for better tear drainage.
• Stent or Tube Insertion. In this procedure, a thin tube is inserted into one or both tear ducts to widen the openings, making it easier for tears to drain. The tube remains in place for about three months, and the procedure can be done under local anesthesia or general anesthesia.
• Tear Duct Surgery (DCR). DCR is a surgical procedure that may be necessary if less invasive methods are unsuccessful. It creates a new pathway for tear drainage by using the tear sac in the nose to form a new channel. The surgery is performed under local or general anesthesia.

Wear glasses to prevent foreign objects from entering your eyes. It is important to wear glasses or eye protection when working with chemicals, electrical tools, or in places with airborne particles, such as sawdust. These materials can get trapped in your eyes and cause tearing. Glasses also help protect your eyes from larger or smaller objects that might strike and injure them.

Wear sunglasses. Sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful UV rays that can cause tearing. They also act as a barrier against particles and debris that may be blown into your eyes by the wind.

• Before wearing sunglasses, make sure to clean any dust or dirt off the lenses.

Use separate tools, makeup products, and eye care items. Sharing eye makeup, eye drops, or towels is a common way for eye infections or viruses to spread. It’s best to avoid using anything that has come into contact with someone else’s eyes.

• If you experience persistent watery eyes, it's important to consult a doctor. You might have contracted a viral or bacterial infection.