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Why Do We Need Tears?

When our eyes water, they're making tears, just like when a person cries. The tears from watering help protect the eyes. How? By keeping them moist and washing out dust and other foreign stuff that gets in there. The tears might only fill the eyes or the excess tears might trickle down a person’s face.

Where Tears Are Made

Whether it’s tears from crying or tears from watering eyes, the liquid in eyes is created the same way. All tears come out of tear glands, or lacrimal (LAH-krum-ul) glands, found way up under the upper eyelids. Tears wash down from the glands and over the eyes.

Tear Ducts

Some of the tears drain out of the eyes through tear ducts, or lacrimal ducts. These ducts are tiny tubes that run between the eyes and your nose. Each tear duct is like a tiny bathtub drain. When the eyes fill up with tears, the tears drain out through the tear ducts. Humans have two tear ducts — one near the inside corner of each eye.

If tears are flowing quickly, like when a person is crying pretty hard, the ducts can't drain quickly enouth, so tears run down the face. Sometimes a person’s nose runs when they cry. That's because some of the tears making their exit through the ducts end up coming out of the nose.

What Causes Eyes to Water?

Eyes water for lots of different reasons besides crying. Anything that irritates the eye can bring on tears because the eye will try to wash it out. So when something gets stuck in there — like dirt or an eyelash — tears start flowing.

People can't always see the stuff that gets in their eyes. Have you ever walked into a smoky room? If so, you may have noticed your eyes tearing up as protection against the smoke. Even though the particles that make up smoke are too small to see, they can still bother your eyes. Eyes also might water near an onion that's being peeled or chopped. The fumes onions give off actually contain tiny chemicals that can get in your eyes and make them hurt.

Things that can dry out eyes, like cold air or wind, will make eyes water, too. To protect the eyes from getting too dry, the tear glands crank out tears.

When Eyes Water More Often

When eyes water more than just occasionally from something irritating them, it is called epiphora (eye-PIF-uh-ruh). This can happen when kids have allergies; infections like a cold; or pinkeye, known as conjunctivitis (con-JUNK-tih-vie-tis). All of these irritations can inflame the eyes and make them water.

Another problem is not being able to drain the tears, so the eyes can get too full of liquid. This may happen because someone has a blocked tear duct. Babies can be born with blocked lacrimal ducts. They usually open on their own, but some babies need a small operation to clear the ducts.

How Can I Treat Watery Eyes?

The good news is most cases of watery eyes get better on their own or can be treated at home. Here are some things parents can try:

  • Clean the eye area with warm water and a soft cloth or cotton ball.
  • Apply cool compresses to reduce irritation.
  • Use a cool mist humidifier so that the air is not as dry.

If recommended by your doctor, use artificial tears to help flush out irritants. If watery eyes don’t go away in a few days or become worse, call your doctor. Also, be sure to call the doctor right away if there is pain, discharge, vision changes, redness, or fever. 

Date reviewed: October 2026