Watering eye or tearing or epiphora is a malady wherein overflowing of tears over the face occurs often inexplicable. Due to deficient tear film emptying out from the eye or eyes – rather than complete tear drainage via the nasolacrimal system (tear conduct channels), they brim over onto the face.
Although epiphora could surface irrespective of age, but it has been noted to commonly occur among below 1-year-old infants and over sixty years old adults and could develop in merely one or both the eyes.
Mostly, epiphora treatment could be effectually done. Based on how severe the signs are, epiphora could at times make driving tricky and hence risky.
Epiphora Causes:
Two key causes of epiphora are:
- Tear Duct Blockage
Prevalent reason for epiphora amongst older kids and adults is often duct blockage or quite constricted ducts. Contracted tear ducts generally are the consequence of inflammation or swelling.Presence of blockage or narrowing of the tear ducts leads to improper drainage of tears and hence accruement in the tear sac and hence stagnation thus raising chances of infection developing in that region. The eye would as a result produce a gluey liquid that further aggravates the issue. Infection could additionally cause inflammation on the nasal sides close to the eyes.Blockage could additionally develop in the tapered drainage conduits on the inner area of the eye or canaliculi leading to scarring or swell up. - Excessive tear production
Eye irritation could lead to abnormal tear production as the body attempts on flushing out the irritants. Excessive tear production is caused due to the below mentioned irritants:- A number of chemicals like vapours, onion.
- Allergic or infective conjunctivitis.
- Any harm to the eyes like scratches, or miniscule particles like small pebbles or dirt specks.
- Ingrown eyelashes or entropion.
- Turning outwards of the lower eyelids or ectropion.
- Certain people have elevated lipid presence in their tears which could obstruct smooth spreading of liquid over the eyes which tends to leave dry areas that turn painful and lead to irritation and more production of tears henceforth.
Epiphora Diagnosis:
- Insertion of a probe by the GP within the tapered drainage conduits on the inner part of the eye or canaliculi for checking if there is blockage.
- Insertion of liquid is done inside a tear duct for finding if it is coming out of the person’s nose. In case blockage is found, a dye injection is administered for finding out the precise spot of the blockage – which could be performed by employing X-ray technique with the dye appearing on the X-rays.
