Why that leaky eye might not be down to hay fever
If you have an eye that just won’t quit watering, you may be desperately trying to work out what is wrong and how to make it stop.
With spring around the corner, hay fever may be your first thought – despite the fact warmer weather still feels a way away. So, what’s going on?
“There are many potential causes of a leaky eye,” says Dr Clare O’Donnell, optometrist and Head of Optometry at specialist eye hospital group Optegra (optegra.com).
It can be a common sign of hay fever. “Hay fever commonly causes allergic conjunctivitis, as well as other well-known symptoms like a runny nose,” she explains. “Allergic conjunctivitis affects about one in five adults, so it’s one of the most common eye problems.”
If the pollen count is up, hay fever may be striking early.
Here are some other possible watery eye causes to keep in mind...
Dry eye disease
Tania Cork, a pharmacist and member of Thea UK’s EYE (Expert on Your Eyes; thea-pharmaceuticals. co.uk) team, says dry eye disease can also cause watery eyes.
“Dry eye disease occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears, or tears dry up quicker than usual. Despite a likeness to hay fever symptoms, dry eye patients describe a stinging or burning sensation, rather than itchiness,” Tania adds. “They also experience sensitivity to light and may complain of foreign body sensation [feeling like something is in your eye].
“Lifestyle factors can significantly contribute to dry eye disease, with common causes being prolonged screen time, wearing contact lenses, make-up, air pollution and smoking.”
Eye infection
Dr O’Donnell says a watery eye can also be a sign of “infections like viral conjunctivitis, or more seriously an infection of the cornea, which can be very painful and sight-threatening”.
If there’s a chance you may have an infection, she says it’s important to get this checked by a medical professional as soon as possible.
A scratched cornea
Watering eyes can also be caused by an “abrasion – scratch – to the cornea, due to something in the eye”, says Dr O’Donnell.
You may not be able to see the scratch yourself, so it’s important
to get this checked.
A drooping eyelid
Another possible cause of a watery eye is that your “eyelid is drooping away from the eye, or there are other problems with the eyelid,” says Dr O’Donnell. If this is the case, your doctor should “investigate the cause,” she adds.
Bell’s palsy
Bell’s palsy is a condition “which causes temporary weakness on one side of the face,” explains Dr O’Donnell. In some cases, this can come on quite suddenly, causing one side of the face to appear drooped and paralysed – which can also affect the eyes.
With any form of facial paralysis or drooping, it’s important to seek medical attention quickly. While Bell’s palsy is usually temporary, getting rapid treatment can help.