It sounds strange, but one of the most common signs of dry eye disease is actually watery eyes. At Washington Eye Doctors, we often hear patients in Washington, DC, Chase, MD, & Arlington VA say, “My eyes won’t stop tearing—how could they be dry?” It seems contradictory, but here’s why it happens.
The Tear Film: A Delicate Balance
Your eyes are protected by a thin layer called the tear film, which is made of three main components:
- Water (from your lacrimal glands) to hydrate
- Oil (from your meibomian glands) to help your tears spread evenly across the eye and prevent evaporation
- Mucus to help thicken the tears so they last longer
When any part of this system isn’t working—whether it’s too little oil, poor mucus, or not enough water—the tear film becomes unstable. Dr. Rosenblatt of Washington explains, “When one part of that goes awry, it doesn’t provide the protection needed… your lids rub the eye, which causes that gritty, stinging sensation.”
Reflex Tearing: Your Body’s Emergency Response
When your eyes feel dry, your body may produce a flood of reflex tears in response. These are mostly water and lack the essential oils and mucus. Unfortunately, this overproduction doesn’t solve the problem—it washes away the good stuff, leaving your eyes even drier.
It’s like putting dry hands under water—it might look better for a moment, but as the water evaporates, your skin feels tighter and drier than before. The same thing happens with your eyes.
The Takeaway
If your eyes are constantly tearing, you might be treating a symptom, not the underlying cause. The dry, unstable tear film is triggering excess water production—but without restoring oil and mucus, the problem won’t go away.