Whether from allergies or as a result of cold symptoms, eyes can become itchy or watery. Although not necessarily painful, it can be irritating and inconvenient while at work or school. There are steps you can take to treat watery eyes and eliminate the annoyance and prevent further infection or disease.
Step 1
Use over-the-counter eye drops, such as Visine-A or Opcon-A (for allergies), to wash out irritants and clean the eye area. Dry eyes can actually cause excessive watering of the eyes. If you suffer from dry eyes with associated redness, try a multipurpose eye drop like Visine Totality. These drops can be used as needed.
Step 2
Take over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines to decrease the concentration of allergens in the eyes. Histamines are substances that attach themselves to cells in the body and irritate them. This irritation produces symptoms such as watery eyes. Antihistamines work to rid the body of the histamines, thus reducing or preventing the associated symptoms. Zyrtec, Claritin, Benadryl and Singlet are antihistamines that are available over-the-counter.
Step 3
Add moisture to the air. If dry eyes are the underlying cause of your watery eyes, purchase a humidifier to add moisture into the air in your home.
Step 4
Visit an allergy specialist. The specialist can perform tests to tell you more about what you are allergic to and can perform treatments such as immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a treatment that exposes you to small amounts of the allergen to help your body build up a natural resistance.
Step 5
Wash and dry hands before touching your face or eyes to prevent rubbing oil or dirt from your hands into your eyes.
Step 6
Wear sunglasses when outside and being exposed to excessive sun. Wraparound sunglasses offer extra protection from dust.
Step 7
Eliminate dust and irritants by dusting your home and changing air filters regularly.
