When a cold hits, a stuffy nose and a sore throat are usually the first things you notice. For a lot of people, watery eyes join in soon after and make a rough week feel even worse. We hear about it often during eye exams, especially once cold season starts.
Your eyes water when you’re sick because swollen nasal passages can block the ducts that drain tears into your nose, so the extra tears spill over instead. A cold virus can also irritate your eyes directly. And if the tearing continues long after you feel better, it may point to something else, such as dry eye.
How Your Tear Ducts Connect to Your Nose
Your eyes make tears all day to keep their surface moist and comfortable. Each time you blink, your eyelids sweep used tears toward 2 tiny openings near the inner corner of each eye.
From there, tears flow through a narrow passage called the tear duct and empty into your nose. That’s why your nose runs when you cry. Since your eyes and nose share this drainage system, trouble in your nose can show up in your eyes, too.
Why a Stuffy Nose Makes Your Eyes Water
A cold virus inflames the lining inside your nose and makes the tissue swell. That swelling can narrow or close off the spot where your tear ducts drain. Your eyes keep making tears, and with nowhere to go, those tears pool along your lower lids and run down your cheeks.
Pooled tears can leave your eyes looking red and glassy. Some people also find their tears sting or burn while they’re sick, especially after a few days of wiping and rubbing.
Sometimes the virus reaches your eyes, too. The same kinds of viruses that cause colds can also lead to viral conjunctivitis, a type of pink eye that turns the whites of your eyes red and watery. It spreads easily, so wash your hands often and keep your towels and pillowcases to yourself until you recover.
Cold or Allergies: Which Is Causing Your Watery Eyes?
Colds and allergies can both make your eyes water. Your other symptoms usually give you better clues. A cold often comes with:
- A sore throat
- A cough
- A headache
- Mild body aches
- A low-grade fever
Most colds last less than a week. If your symptoms seem to come and go with the seasons, or flare up around pets or dust, allergies could be the cause.
Allergies don’t cause a fever, even though plenty of people call them hay fever. Here’s what you’re more likely to notice with allergies:
- Itchy eyes
- An itchy mouth or skin
- A runny or stuffy nose without aches or a sore throat
When a Cold Turns Into a Sinus Infection
Sometimes congestion settles into your sinuses instead of clearing up. A recent cold can raise your risk of a sinus infection, which happens when fluid builds up in the air-filled pockets in your face and germs start to grow.
Sinus infections can cause facial pain or pressure along with a headache. Most get better on their own. See a healthcare provider if your symptoms last more than 10 days without improving or get worse after you start to feel better.
How to Get Relief from Watery Eyes During a Cold
Watery eyes from a cold often settle down once your congestion clears. Until then, try a few simple steps that can help with cold symptoms:
- Hold a warm compress over your eyes and the bridge of your nose for a few minutes
- Use a saline nasal spray or drops
- Run a clean humidifier while you sleep
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Get extra rest
Wash your hands before you touch your face. When your eyes run, pat them dry with a clean tissue and avoid rubbing. Smoke and dust can worsen irritation, so avoid both until you feel better.
When Watery Eyes Need More Than Home Remedies
Most cold-related tearing clears up on its own. Watch for a few signs that mean your eyes need a closer look:
- Blurry vision or other changes in how you see
- A lump or bump near your eye
- Eye pain
- Tearing that continues after your cold is gone
If you notice sudden vision changes or severe eye pain, call for emergency eye care right away. Lingering tears can come from a blocked tear duct or dry eye. A comprehensive eye exam gives your optometrist a chance to check how your tears drain and how healthy the surface of your eye looks.
Getting Answers for Watery Eyes That Won’t Stop
If your eyes water with every cold, or they keep watering once you’re healthy again, your optometrist can help you find out why.
Our team at Total Vision Del Mar looks at how your tears drain and whether allergies or dry eye could be involved, then walks you through care options that fit your eyes. Book an appointment and let’s figure out what’s keeping your eyes watery together.
