Doctor explains why elderly people often have watery eyes
Ophthalmologist and eye surgeon at “Medicina” Clinic (Academician Roytberg Clinic), Sino Goziyev, told Gazeta.Ru that watery eyes in elderly people are mainly caused by narrowing of the tear ducts, eyelid ptosis (drooping), or impaired function of the lacrimal gland.
“Narrowing or blockage of the tear ducts is common among elderly patients. With age, the tear pathways undergo anatomical changes: they become narrower, shorter, and lose elasticity. This disrupts the drainage of tear fluid, leading to its accumulation and constant tearing,” the doctor explained.
“Eyelid ptosis and sagging skin cause the eyelids not to close completely, especially during sleep. This leads to corneal dryness, which in turn triggers a compensatory increase in tear secretion — a mechanism known as reflex tearing,” he added.
Another frequent cause, he said, is dysfunction of the lacrimal gland.
“Reduced tear production or changes in tear composition lead to dry eye syndrome. Paradoxically, this condition also results in tearing. When the cornea becomes dry, a reflex mechanism activates the secretion of the watery component of tears, but without the oily and mucous layers needed to maintain tear film stability,” Goziyev noted.
