What causes dry and easily teary eyes?
Nov 17, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Shuai
Introduction
Dry and watery eyes may be caused by dry environments, eye strain, dry eye syndrome, chronic conjunctivitis, or blocked tear ducts. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive appropriate treatment under a doctor's guidance. Maintain good eye hygiene in daily life, use a personal towel, and regularly disinfect it with boiling water. Include foods rich in vitamin A in your diet, such as carrots and blueberries.
Generally, dry and watery eyes may be caused by factors such as dry environments, eye strain, dry eye syndrome, chronic conjunctivitis, or blocked tear ducts. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive appropriate treatment under a doctor's guidance. Specific analysis is as follows:
1. Dry environment: Prolonged exposure to air-conditioned rooms or windy, sandy conditions can cause excessive evaporation of the tear film, leading to dryness and reflex tearing. Use a humidifier to maintain indoor humidity between 40% and 60%. Wear protective goggles in windy, dusty outdoor environments to reduce tear loss.
2. Eye strain: Staring at electronic screens for extended periods reduces blinking frequency, accelerating tear film breakup and causing dryness along with compensatory tearing. Follow the "20-20-20" rule—every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Consciously increase blinking frequency and adjust screen brightness to match ambient lighting.
3. Dry eye syndrome: Insufficient or poor-quality tear production leads to inadequate ocular surface lubrication, which stimulates the lacrimal gland to secrete tears, resulting in the paradoxical symptoms of dryness and tearing. Follow medical advice to use artificial tear drops such as sodium hyaluronate eye drops, polyethylene glycol eye drops, or carboxymethylcellulose sodium eye drops for relief.
4. Chronic conjunctivitis: Recurrent bacterial infection or environmental irritants cause chronic inflammation of the conjunctiva, which can lead to both dryness and increased tear secretion. Use prescribed medications such as tobramycin eye drops, levofloxacin eye drops, or erythromycin eye ointment, and avoid rubbing the eyes.
5. Blocked tear ducts: Narrowing or obstruction of the tear drainage system impedes tear outflow, causing tears to accumulate and overflow. At the same time, abnormal tear circulation may lead to ocular surface dryness. Use prescribed anti-inflammatory eye drops such as tobramycin-dexamethasone eye drops, chloramphenicol eye drops, or rifampicin eye drops. If necessary, undergo probing procedures to clear the blocked tear duct and restore normal tear drainage.
Maintain good eye hygiene by using personal towels and regularly disinfecting them with boiling water. Include vitamin A-rich foods in your diet, such as carrots and blueberries. Avoid staying up late and ensure adequate rest for the eyes to support overall eye health.
