Tearing in Adults Norfolk Virginia Beach VA

Tearing in Adults

Tears are produced through the lacrimal glands to help lubricate your eyes and keep them healthy. As new tears are created, the old ones drain out of the eye through small openings in the eyelid (called puncta). They then pass into the lacrimal sac and through the tear duct. From here, the tears drain into the nose and throat, which is why our noses tend to run when we cry. If you suffer from excessive tearing, a condition known as epiphora, your lacrimal glands may be over-producing tears, or a blockage in the tear drainage system may be present.

Last Updated: September 10, 2021

Causes of Excessive Tearing

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Excessive tearing in adults can be persistent or sporadic, depending on the specific cause. There are several reasons why you may be experiencing the overabundance of tears, which may include:

Obstructed drainage path from injury, developmental
issues, tumor, or infection
Condition with the eyelids or eyelashes
Glaucoma
Reaction to certain medications
Foreign material in the eye
Environmental factors or allergies
Eyestrain
Dry eye syndrome
Scratch on the surface of the eye

To determine why you may be suffering from excessive tearing, and select the most effective treatment, your eye doctor may do one or more of the following:

Flush your tear drainage system with fluid to ensure the channel is clear
Measure your tear production and/or eye pressure
Conduct a fluorescent dye test to illuminate the draining process
Perform a computerized tomography (CT) scan to locate a potential obstruction

Treatment for Excessive Tearing

Once the cause of your excessive tearing has been established, your doctor can determine which of the following solutions may provide the best outcome for your eye health:

Ointment or drops to help lubricate the eyes
Treatment for dry eye syndrome
Removing foreign material in the eye
Correcting a blocked or injured drainage system with surgery
Creating a new opening between the lacrimal sac and the nose
Inserting an artificial tear duct

Contact Virginia Eye Consultants

If you suffer from excessive tearing and wish to find an effective treatment for the problem, please contact our practice today.

The doctors at Virginia Eye Consultants have either authored or reviewed the content on this site.