10 reasons your eyes water

1 DRAINAGE ISSUES Watering eyes occur if too many tears are produced or if they cannot drain away properly. Usually, they drain away through tiny openings inside the edges of the eyelids near the nose called the puncta. But if some or all of the puncta are blocked – perhaps by small particles of dirt or even loose cells from the skin around the eye, drainage can be affected. 2 GLAND PROBLEMS Glands in the eyelids (called the meibomian glands) normally secrete an oily substance that slows the evaporation of tears between blinks. When these glands don’t function properly, dry patches can develop on the eyes and they become sore. Extra tears are produced as a reflex to try to relieve the dryness. 3 SAGGY EYELIDS This condition, known as ectropion, mainly affects the lower eyelid, causing it to droop away from the eye and turn outwards. It’s not usually serious, but can be uncomfortable and disrupt the drainage of tears. 4 OR THOSE THAT ROLL INWARDS Entropion, on the other hand, is the inward turning of the eyelid. This causes the lashes and lid skin to rub the surface of the eye – in turn triggering discomfort, watering and redness of the eye. 5 ROSACEA This skin condition is most recognisable by the facial flushing it causes. But 60% of sufferers also develop eye problems. Known as ocular rosacea, it can lead to red, watery, burning eyes. 6 COLD/WINDY WEATHER Eyes always watering in winter? Cold and windy weather irritates the front of the eye, driving the glands that make tears into overdrive. 7 AN ALLERGY Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is the most common type of eye allergy. Patients experience symptoms in spring, summer or autumn, depending on the type of plant pollens in the air. Symptoms include clear, watery discharge – but if the allergy is persistent, sufferers may also suffer from chronic dark circles under their eyes, known as allergic shiners. 8 INFECTIONS Conjunctivitis – also known as pink eye – is a common condition that causes redness and inflammation of the thin layer of tissue that covers the front of the eye (the conjunctiva). It’s often due to the eyes coming into contact with things that can irritate the conjunctiva, such as shampoo or chlorinated water, or a loose eyelash rubbing against the eye – this is called irritant conjunctivitis. 9 DAMAGED CORNEA A corneal abrasion (scratched cornea or scratched eye) is one of the most common eye injuries. It can make the eye red, watery and very sensitive to light, and disrupt vision. 10 AND FINALLY – WHY ONIONS MAKE US WEEP The component in an onion that makes the eyes water is called lachrymatory factor, from the Latin lacrima, or “tear”. Lachrymatory factor irritates the eyes and stimulate the tear glands to produce tears, much like the action of tear gas. – Mail On Sunday