Tearing - Increased

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What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting increased tearing may include:

• time pattern
  • When did it begin?
  • Is it the first occurrence?
  • Does it occur all the time or off and on?
  • Is there a pattern to the occurrences?
• quality
  • Is the vision affected?
  • Are corrective lenses worn or needed?
  • Is the increased tearing related to emotional responses?
  • Is the tearing accompanied by pain? Stinging? Itching?
  • Is the fluid clear?
  • Are the eyes red or swollen?
  • Is drainage or crusting present on awakening?
• location
  • Does increased tearing affect both eyes?
  • If so, are they affected equally?
• aggravating factors
  • What seems to cause or increase the tearing?
  • What medications are being taken?
  • Are there allergies?
  • Is there frequent exposure to wind, dust, chemicals, sun, or light?
  • Have there been recent injuries to the eye(s)?
• relieving factors
  • What seems to help reduce the tearing?
  • Have eye solutions been tried?
• other
  • What other symptoms are also present?
  • Is there any loss of vision?
  • Have there been changes in vision?
  • Is there a headache?
  • Is there nasal congestion or a runny nose?
  • Are there joint aches or muscle aches?
  • Has anyone else had similar symptoms recently?

• culture and sensitivity testing of tear specimen
• Schirmer's test

Intervention:

Once the symptoms are explained, the cause is usually clear. Treatment can include artificial tears, topical antihistamines antibiotics or even surgery.

If a blockage of the tear system is possible, a probe is inserted into the tear drainage system. This is painless. If a blockage is present surgery is usually necessary to correct the problem. Improper eyelid position can also be fixed with minor surgery.