Tearing

Tearing is the secretion of tears, a body fluid which often serves to clean and lubricate the eyes in response to an irritation of the eyes. Tears formed through crying are associated with strong internal emotions.

Causes

Tearing can be triggered by a variety of factors, including:

• Emotion: Strong emotions such as happiness, sadness, or frustration can lead to tearing.
• Irritation: Exposure to irritants such as wind, smoke, or onions can cause the eyes to produce tears.
• Infection: Eye infections like conjunctivitis can cause excessive tearing.
• Allergy: Allergic reactions can also lead to tearing.
• Dry eye syndrome: Ironically, one of the symptoms of dry eye syndrome is excessive tearing.

Treatment

Treatment for tearing depends on the underlying cause. It may include:

• Artificial tears: These can be used to lubricate the eyes in cases of dry eye syndrome.
• Antihistamines: These can be used to treat tearing caused by allergies.
• Antibiotics: These can be used to treat eye infections that cause tearing.
• Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be required to correct a tear duct obstruction.

See also

• Lacrimal apparatus
• Lacrimal gland
• Dry eye syndrome

Tearing Resources
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