Homeopathy 

Streaming down tears

Troubles usually make one shed tears, likewise tears (increased secretion / decreased secretion / obstruction in flow) puts one in trouble. If there is a tear problem, it won’t let anyone concentrate on any matter. That is why, during riots and uncontrollable civilian mobs, police often use tear gas that creates burning pain in the eye with overflowing tears to harass and disperse the crowd nonviolently (?). This means that one’s comfort vision lies in the quantity and quality of tears. The problem of overflowing tears is such that it affects one’s comfort vision.

Streaming down tears is medically termed as epiphora. This distracted / turbulent flow will usually cover our eyes with tears to cause a blur, disturbing visual acuity all the time rather than giving any pain. Usually, crying wets cheeks, but streaming down of tears over the cheeks is also seen even while simply yawning, sneezing, laughing, coughing, vomiting, etc. Likewise, while taking very hot fluid or spicy foods, tears seem to overflow.

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These reactions are quite normal and require no treatment, since facial muscles compress the lachrymal gland to let out tears, when the face is grimaced. But recurrent flow due to recurrent sneezing, allergic rhinitis and nervous disorders which distort the appearance of the face permanently due to paralysis should be treated accordingly, or otherwise, it will keep rolling always.

Incidences and causes – Tears problem are often seen in persons

• Who wear contact lens

• Who work more with computers

• Who read books continuously for hours together

• Who lack Vitamin A – either from food or from absorption

• Who suffer often with in-growing eyelashes or parasites in eyelashes

• Who suffer with degenerative auto immune disorders, diabetes, dehydration, etc.

• In elderly persons, where wrinkles or losing skin texture makes lower eyelid to hang loose to drop out tears instead of directing them into the nose through normal stream.

* Overflowing tears may be a sign of

• Emotional upset, great excitement, painful condition

• Sensitive eye to sparkling light or dust

• Exposure to chemicals, irritants or allergens, temperature variation, etc.

• Dry eyes – to compensate the dryness, tears secretion will be increased naturally

• Clogged lachrymal duct – stricture or obstruction in the duct or from outside (nose)

• Lack of punctum i.e. lachrymal duct opening in the eye – congenital (from birth)

• Allergic rhinitis involving eye

• Neurological lesions involving facial muscles i.e. Bel's palsy, herpes zoster infection

• Nasal polyps / tumour

• Eyelid problems like styes and chalazion

Symptoms – Tears usually roll in all eye problems. The overflowing / streaming down of tears itself is a symptom, causing additional symptoms like irritation, burning pain, blurred vision, redness, itching, poor concentration, recurrent cold, running nose, sneezing, cough, headache, etc. Just a blink or wipe can improve one’s vision during overflowing tears.

Diagnosis – Opthalmologists can easily diagnose the complaint with simple eye examination. First they rule out dry eye, then allergic tendencies and then nasal causes, etc. To derive accurate diagnosis, the following tests may be necessary.

• Probe test to rule out obstruction of the lachrymal duct
  Culture and sensitivity tests of the tears to rule out infection and inflammation

• Routine blood tests to rule out infection and inflammation

• Absolute eosinophil count to rule out the allergic tendencies

Complications – Normally, streaming down tears won’t cause any complication, since eyes are otherwise normal except for watering. But, occasionally, it can cause sinusitis due to running nose, headache due to blurred vision, pain or heaviness in eyes, baggy bluish swelling in the inner angle of the eye.

Prevention - Keeping eyes clean with hygienic measures will always prevent one from further bouts.

Do’s

• Wash eyes with cold water at least 4 times a day

• Wipe tears with clean kerchief or towel

• Massage upper area of the nose where it joins inner angle of eye to improve flow

• Take Vit A rich foods (cod liver oil, carrot, milk, plenty of green leafy vegetables, fruits juices), since Vit A plays a vital role in normal vision and immunological defence mechanisms.

• Wear cooling glasses when exposed to direct sunlight or bright glaring lights or storm 

• Sleep at least 6 hours a day

• Treat cold, nasal allergy/complaints immediately

Avoid

• Squeezing eyes with hand
  Looking at direct sunlight or bright glaring lights

• Smoking and snuffing

• Exposure to dust, irritants, chemical fumes, strong wind

• Using cosmetics on eyelids

• Using strong soaps and strong shampoos

General treatment – For streaming down tears, mostly doctors concentrate on allergic reaction and they provide anti-histamine drugs widely. If there is any infection or redness, they will provide a course of antibiotic eyedrops / tablets. If there is any block in the pathway i.e. in the lachrymal duct, or adjacently pressing the duct (nasal polyp or tumour), then they will go for surgical procedure for regaining free flow.

Homeopathic approach – Only eyes should not be blamed for tearing problem since there are lots of other factors influencing tears. So, in all the cases of overflow, the cause should be analysed first and treated accordingly. If it is due to irritants or foreign substance, the irritating substance should be first rooted out. 

If the over secretion is due to allergic reactions, then tendency for allergy should be treated than dilating the ducts. Without treating the cause, suppressing the allergic tendency with anti-histamine drugs will work for that day only and it is not at all the right treatment for overflowing tears. If the tendency to allergy is rooted out, then overflowing tears can be cured once and for all. Homeopathy provides it without any side-effects.

The objective of taking treatment should be to provide comfort by all means, but not by suppressing Nature. If the cause is due to infective adhesions, or stricture, Homeopathic medicines can address it very well, but in case of congenital lack of opening, surgical correction may be the only way.

Homeopathy gives importance to patients' feeling also, while selecting the drug, i.e., feeling burning pain, tenderness, feeling of air blowing in the eyes, feeling as if there is sand in the eyes, etc. With the most apt drug, Homeopathy can streamline the flow of tears and revert overflowing tears to normalcy without drying up and control infection by enhancing immunity.

Homeopathic medicines commonly used for overflowing tears are Acid nit, Acid flour, Apis mel, Borax, Cal carb, Euphrasia, Graphites, Hepar sulph, Mer cor, Nat mur, Petroleum, Physostigma, Pulsastilla, Rhus tox, Ruta, Silicea, Staphysagria, Sulphur, Thuja, etc. These medicines should be taken under the advice and diagnosis of a qualified Homeopath.

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Published on June 12^th, 2006