It might sound strange, but if your eyes are constantly watering, you could have dry eye. Yes, you read that right! Even though dry eye sounds like it should involve less moisture, watery eyes are a common symptom of this condition. At Seacoast Vision Care, Dr. Corbell and our expert team offer dry eye treatment in Scarborough to help relieve dry eye and get your eyes back to feeling comfortable. 

So, why do your eyes water when you have dry eye, and what can you do about it? 

Why are my eyes watering if I have dry eye? 

Dry eye happens when your eyes don’t produce enough high-quality tears to keep them properly moisturized. Tears are crucial for keeping your eyes comfortable and healthy. Without them, your eyes can get gritty, itchy, and, yes, watery. This may sound counterintuitive, but your body sometimes responds to dryness by producing excess tears. 

When your eyes don’t get enough lubrication, they become irritated. Your body senses that irritation and goes into overdrive to produce tears. The problem is that these tears are often watery and don’t have the right mix of nutrients to properly coat and protect your eyes. So, even though your eyes may water like crazy, they still feel dry and uncomfortable because they’re not getting the right kind of moisture. 

Common symptoms of dry eye 

Watery eyes are just one of the symptoms of dry eye. Here are a few other signs that you might be dealing with dry eye: 

• Gritty or scratchy feeling: It can feel like there’s something in your eye even when there isn’t. 
• Redness: Your eyes might look irritated or bloodshot. 
• Blurry vision: Dry eye can cause occasional blurry or fluctuating vision. 
• Burning or stinging: A common sensation when your eyes are too dry. 
• Discomfort with contacts: Wearing contact lenses may become more uncomfortable if you have dry eye. 

How Seacoast Vision Care can help with dry eye 

At Seacoast Vision Care, we offer cutting-edge treatments to help relieve dry eye symptoms, including OptiLight IPL therapy and ZEST. These treatments are designed to target the underlying causes of dry eye and bring long-lasting relief. 

OptiLight IPL therapy 

OptiLight IPL (intense pulsed light) therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses gentle light pulses to reduce inflammation and improve the function of the meibomian glands that produce an important part of your tears. It’s especially effective for people with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), a common cause of dry eye. By restoring proper tear production, OptiLight helps your eyes stay hydrated and comfortable. 

ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment) 

ZEST is another advanced treatment we offer at Seacoast Vision Care. This procedure focuses on cleaning and rejuvenating the eyelids, which is essential for healthy tear production. ZEST removes debris, bacteria, and biofilm that can build up along the lash line and contribute to dry eye. A clean, healthy eyelid margin is key to producing high-quality tears that keep your eyes properly lubricated. 

If your eyes are watering constantly, don’t brush it off as a minor annoyance—it could be a sign of dry eye. Dr. Corbell and the team at Seacoast Vision Care in Scarborough, Maine, are here to help you find relief. If you’re tired of dealing with constantly watery eyes or other dry eye symptoms, schedule an appointment with Dr. Corbell today.