If the tear drainage system is blocked, surgery to open or bypass the blockage may be necessary. The type of surgery depends on the location of the blockage. If the problem is dry eyes, artificial tear replacement or even closure of the tear drainage puncta may be helpful. Occasionally, the exact cause cannot be determined. In such cases, the patient may have to learn to live with the problem.
Babies frequently develop infected eyes with overflow tearing.
It has been reported that almost one-third of newborn infants have one or both eyes that water at birth. These eyes overflow with tears and mucus. Ophthalmologists refer to overflow tearing as congenital stenosis of the nasal lacrimal drainage system. Tears drain from the eyes through two small openings, or pores, located on the upper and lower lids near the nose. These openings empty the tears into tear sacs which are located under the skin on each side of the nose.