Q: My husband has had a watery right eye now for several weeks. What in the world can he do?
A: While we see and treat more dry eye problems, overly wet eyes are very annoying as well. First, let’s talk about the potential causes:
- Infection or inflammation: The tiny tubes that draw away our tears with each blink can become blocked or plugged. This is like a plumbing problem, in that when normal drainage is impaired, the tear fluid backs up and spills over the eyelids. When infection is the cause, many patients will find that their eyelid right next to their nose is tender to touch. Sometimes this is more obvious with redness and/or swelling of that same area. Immediate medical treatment is essential to prevent permanent damage to the tear drainage system. Treatment will generally require both topical eye medications and oral antibiotics along with warm compresses.
Just a word of caution…. if the upper eyelid is involved, this could indicate a deeper infection behind the eyelid or eye. This can become very serious, even life threatening, if the infection progresses through the eye socket, or orbit. Running a fever can sometimes be an added clue of this more serious infection.
Lastly, sometimes the tear duct system is blocked with swelling deeper in the drainage system. This can be diagnosed and treated by irrigating medication into the blocked tear drain. We may also prescribe topical ocular steroids and nasal anti-inflammatory meds to reduce swelling in the lacrimal system.
- Flaccid lower eyelids: Many older folks notice their eyelids become naturally softer and less taut over the years. When you blink your eyes, normally the lower lids are snug up against the eye itself. The eyelid blinking muscles actually pull fluid off the eye surface and into the tear drainage tube or duct. If your lid/s are softer or flaccid, the blink system fails to pull the tear fluid into the drainage system……and the tears spill over the lid/s. Very annoying! The eyelid skin may become crusty or roughened or reddened from the frequent watering. The solution? That’s a tough decision, because your choices are really just two……first, eyelid surgery to “tighten” up the lids. Not a simple or real pleasant option, and frankly, seldom chosen, and second, carry a tissue to mop up the extra tears. I have heard of some people getting some relief with oral antihistamines, but that is just anecdotal and not medically researched.
So, in your husband’s case, since this has been going on a few weeks and you don’t mention pain or discomfort, his case is most likely of the second type. Schedule him to see his eye doctor so the potentially blocked tear duct may be opened. You may need to call first to be sure your current eye doctor does this procedure, as some do and some don’t.
