Your eyes likely water at night because lying down affects your tear drainage.
When you're upright, gravity helps drain tears through your tear ducts. However, when you lie down, this gravitational assistance is lost. This means tears can accumulate more easily in your eyes since they're not being passively drained as effectively.
Here's a breakdown:
- Reduced Gravity Drainage: During the day, gravity helps pull tears into your tear ducts and away from your eyes. At night, when you're lying down, this natural drainage system is less efficient.
- Tear Buildup: Consequently, more tears can pool on the surface of your eye, leading to watering.
While this is a common reason, other factors can also contribute to nighttime eye watering:
- Allergies: Allergens in your bedroom, like dust mites, can irritate your eyes and cause them to water.
- Dry Eye Syndrome: Counterintuitively, dry eyes can sometimes trigger excessive tear production as the body tries to compensate for the lack of lubrication. This can be more noticeable at night.
- Blepharitis: Inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis) can also lead to increased tear production and watering.
- Eyelash Problems: Ingrown eyelashes or other eyelash issues can irritate the eye and cause tearing.
If excessive tearing at night persists or is accompanied by other symptoms like pain, redness, or blurred vision, consult with an eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
