Patients with a dry eye often complain of tearing. When the amount of lubricating tears secreted is too low to maintain necessary moisture for the eye, the large lacrimal gland often reacts by flooding the eye with additional tears, causing episodes of overflow tearing even though the underlying problem is dry eyes. A thorough examination by an ophthalmologist is necessary to determine the cause of excessive tearing. He or she may attempt to irrigate fluid through the tear drainage system to locate a blockage. Other tests such as measuring tear production or recovering tears from the nose may also be performed.
Treatment depends on the exact cause.
If excess tears are caused by an inturned eyelash, the offending eyelash is removed. Abnormalities of the eyelid may require surgery. 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 openings may be helpful.