Most times I wake up in the morning with tears in my eyes,
or any time I yawn or look into a bright light.
This condition can be caused by a few things that aren't related to
being sad. In some instances I have had people asked me if I was crying since I
carry tissues to dab them once in a while.
Causes teary eyes in the
morning
To those of us that have watery eyes when we wake up, it
could be something quite simple or may signal a bigger issue. Most of the
causes can easily be explained; however, some may need further evaluation.
Here
are some of the common causes why our eyes water just after you wake up:
1.
Light
When we open our eyes first time in
the morning, our pupils are widened due to the darkness while we sleep. Pupils
stay dilated for a little while after we wake up and tearing is a protective
measure to protect our eyes from excessive light. Depending on the time it
takes for our pupils to constrict, our eyes may water in the morning for a few
minutes or up to an hour. This also happens because tears do build up during
the night and have no way of coming out until we open our eyes and expose our
tear ducts.
2.
Yawning
On either side of our eyes, we have
a lacrimal gland that produces tears. It is the tiny opening on the inside of our
eyes, just near the bridge of the nose. This is called the punctum. The opening
helps the tears flow into the eyes and helps to drain them into our nasal
cavity. When we yawn, we tend to squeeze the inner corner of our eyes. This
squeezes the gland and pushes tears out. When we first wake up in the morning,
we tend to yawn as our body wakes up and this can make our eyes more watery.
3.
Dry Eyes
Contrary to the name, people with
“dry eye syndrome” may experience unusually watery eyes in the morning. This is
because the dryness causes irritation to the eye. To combat irritation, the
lacrimal glands tend to overproduce tears. After a long night's sleep, dry eyes
tend to become more irritated so the glands step up production first thing in
the morning.
4.
Irritants
If one is exposed to irritants
(fumes, cooking odors, smoke, etc.) first thing in the morning, one may get eye
irritation and watering after one wakes up. This is because our eyes have been
closed and protected all night by our eyelids. If we wake up to excessive
irritants, our eyes will naturally water to try and protect them.
5.
Eye Infections
If you’re suffering from an eye
infection, your eyes may water to help clear bacteria or viruses from your
eyes. With conjunctivitis, the eyes tend to crust over during sleep and are
stuck closed. This may cause the lacrimal glands to produce excessive tears in
the morning to help open them back up. Use caution with this as it can be
contagious.
6.
Allergies
Allergy levels are highest from the
early morning hours until about noon. Depending on what one is allergic to, one
may wake up with watery eyes in the morning if it is that allergen’s “peak
period.” Morning environmental allergens include ragweed, molds, burning bush,
thistle, tumbleweed, and sage. Try to stay indoors and keep your windows closed
in the morning when pollen counts are high.
7.
Thyroid Disease
Having hypothyroidism and
hyperthyroidism can both cause trouble with your eyes. While having a
hypothyroid or low thyroid hormone can cause you to have dry eyes that water
due to irritation, hyperthyroid may result in eye bulging that causes your eyes
to water due to overexposure to air. This can be worse upon waking up in the
morning to the point of needing tissues, as if you were crying.
8.
Radiation Treatments
If you are undergoing any kind of
routine radiation treatments for any reason, this can cause excessive eye
watering. This is especially bothersome if you are receiving radiation to the
head, neck, eye area, and other areas of the upper body. Radiation can also
cause dry eye syndrome that causes excess watering.
How to treat/ prevent
the problems
If you think you may have an eye
infection, see your doctor for treatment. If you have watery eyes in the
morning and it is just a normal occurrence for you, you can try these things
for relief right at home:
Ø
Apply Eye
Drops - It may seem unusual to treat watery eyes with eye drops, but if
your eyes are watering due to the irritation from dryness you can try a good
over the counter moisturizing drop or gel.
Ø
Use
Allergy Relief Drops - If you suffer from seasonal allergies, there are
over the counter allergy relief drops that can help with inflammation and
relieve dryness. This will help slow down the production of tears associated
with eye allergies.
Ø
Wear
Sunglasses - If the morning light is too bright for your eyes, try wearing
sunglasses outside in the morning. This is especially important if you leave
your house just after sunrise when the sun tends to be more eye level. It is
also helpful to keep your blinds drawn and lights dimmed in your home for the
first hour of the morning.
Ø
Take Deep
Breaths - Yawning is a natural response to lower oxygen levels from sleep.
As you wake up, you tend to yawn more to increase oxygen to your tissues.
Practicing deep breathing upon waking up will help prevent tears being squeezed
out by yawning.
Ø
Get Your
Thyroid Checked - If your eye problems continue with watering and you
notice any bulging or noticeable changes to their appearance, it may be a good
idea to have your doctor checks your thyroid levels. This is necessary if home
remedies don’t seem to help and you have other symptoms like thinning hair, dry
skin, weight loss or gain, fatigue, and joint pain.
Disclaimer:
The
contents on this site are for informational purposes only. The Content is not
meant to be an alternative for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. Always ensure to seek the advice of your physician or a qualified
health professional before starting any new program.
SOURCES:
newhealthguide.org
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