Babies do not produce any tears soon after their birth. It takes a few weeks for the tear ducts to start functioning efficiently. These tears are the eyes’ defence mechanism. This is how the eyes protect themselves from dust and irritants. The tears help wash out the dust and keep the eyes clean.
Have you noticed some children have tears in their eyes at all times? Many mistake it to be the aftermath of a tantrum or a meltdown. Many even think the child is ready to start crying at any given minute. However, the causes of watery eyes in children could be more than just an upset child. Children can suffer from something called epiphora. If your child has watery eyes at all times, read on to know more.
Epiphora is a medical condition when the eyes start watering and do not stop. Tears in the eyes are usual, but there are too many tears in epiphora. The eyes find it challenging to drain them. It is usually nothing alarming. It can be just a temporary condition triggered by overhandling the eyes.
Epiphora does not affect only children. It can affect adults, too. Most people experience epiphora at some point in their lives. It can be a short episode or might need medical intervention. It varies from case to case.
It is easy to ignore epiphora for regular tearing of the eyes. Especially if it is children, many parents may not consider tears in the eyes as something to worry about. Some tell-tale symptoms of epiphora in children are:
Tears in children’s eyes could be just some dust in the environment. Sometimes, the toys they play with may carry irritants that can cause their eyes to tear up. However, epiphora is slightly different. Some of the common epiphora causes in children are:
Checking a child’s eyes can be tricky. They won’t cooperate. If it is a very young child, going to a doctor can upset them and make them cry. When they are crying, it can become challenging to diagnose epiphora.
A doctor will generally do the following to confirm it is epiphora in children and not just regular tears:
In many cases, epiphora does not require any medical treatment. They can clear up on their own. The treatment for epiphora also depends on the cause. So, your child’s treatment will depend on the diagnosis.
The best remedy for watery eyes is to clean the eyes with a clean cloth and let them be. Children can get dust into their eyes quite easily. So, parents can use cleanly washed hands to help clean out the dust. You can use some sterilized drinking water if the irritation is too much.
If the tears and irritation persist, you should consult a doctor immediately. Do not resort to self-medication. Even if they are eye drops your child is familiar with, only use them after consulting a doctor. Using the wrong drops or the wrong dosage can cause severe damage to the child’s eyes.
Watery eyes, or epiphora, are prevalent among both children and adults. There is nothing to panic about. If your child has watery eyes, you can always seek professional help. Ask your children to follow the general hygiene rules like washing hands frequently, not touching the eyes, playing carefully with sharp-edged items, etc. It can help reduce accidents and maintain eye health.
Watery eyes in kids are very common. It could be due to dust, reaction to pollutants, allergies, infections, or inflammation. In rare cases, it could be due to cysts, styes, or something more serious.
Lack of sleep can irritate the eyes. They can also become very light-sensitive, making the child rub their eyes frequently. As a result, it can lead to watery eyes. Sometimes, it can dry the eyes, paving the way to infections.
Epiphora can make children handle their eyes excessively. They may use dirty hands to wipe away the tears, thus leading to other infections. Epiphora, as such, will not harm your child in any way. Constant tears may make it difficult for children to bend down, read, write, and do other activities on par with other children.
