The normal production of tears and their normal removal from the eye surface are very important for clear vision. Abnormalities in the drainage of tears negatively affect the person’s vision and daily social life. Excessive production of tears or the inability to remove tears from the surface of the eye cause eye watering. Overproduction of tears is often the result of eye and lid infections, less frequently associated with lid deformities and corneal diseases. In addition, the inability of the tears produced in normal amounts to be discharged from the drainage pathways is observed as a result of congenital or subsequent tear duct obstructions. In patients presenting with lacrimation, a complete eye examination, as well as tear ducts and intranasal evaluation is required in line with the patient’s age, complaints, onset date of the symptoms, and the presence of additional systemic disease.
The 3 most frequently asked questions to Dr. Onur Konuk about his tears and his treatment:
1. Does eye watering affect my vision negatively?
The sense of sight begins with the perception of light stimuli by the retina. For this, healthy visual stimulus must reach the retina in a healthy way from the intraocular structures to the retina. The light beam that comes into the eye first falls on the tear layer of the eye. Therefore, the presence of more or less tears on the surface of the eye prevents the proper refraction of light and causes vision loss.
2. I have excessive watering in my eyes from time to time, but this is not always seen. Is it due to infection or tear duct obstruction?
The eye surface of the person adjusts the tear production in line with the humidity or dryness of the environment so that it adapts to environmental factors. Sudden dryness on the surface of the eye causes sudden tearing as a reflex. For example, in extremely cold or windy weather, the eyes of people become watery due to the increase in the reflex secretion of tears. In addition to this, foreign objects coming into the eye, for example, in dusty weather, the tears increase and try to clean the eye surface. The most important feature of these tables is that they are temporary. It is not important except for the continuous tables.
3. How is the treatment of watery eyes?
There are various causes of eye watering. With the examination, it is revealed whether the watering is due to excess tear production or the excretion disorder of normally produced tears. After that, the treatment scheme as medication or surgery is followed. You can refer to other sub-headings for the causes of eye watering.