Watery eyes
Watery eyes are when your eyes keep watering or tears run down your face. They are common and often settle on their own, but a blocked tear duct or an eyelid problem can be behind them. Read more about watery eyes →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the ophthalmology wait (not specific to watery eyes), updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
ophthalmology waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | Birmingham | 2 weeks |
| Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Dorset | 4 weeks |
| The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | Dudley | 5 weeks |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | Reigate and Banstead | 5 weeks |
| Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust | Wiltshire | 6 weeks |
| London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust | Brent | 6 weeks |
| Airedale NHS Foundation Trust | Bradford | 6 weeks |
| Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Cheshire East | 7 weeks |
About watery eyes
Watery eyes are when tears run down the face or the eyes keep brimming over. They're very common, especially in babies and older adults, and often settle on their own. Causes include a blocked tear duct, so tears can't drain away as they should, as well as allergies, an eyelid that's turned in or out, or the eye producing extra tears when it's dry or irritated.
How it is treated
Treatment depends on the cause and isn't always needed if the watering isn't bothering you. A blocked tear duct in a baby usually clears by itself in the first year, and a gentle tear-duct massage can help. In adults, options include drops for dryness or allergy, treating an eyelid that's turned in or out, and, for a blocked tear duct that keeps causing problems, a small operation to open up a new drainage channel.
After treatment
Many cases need no treatment or settle with simple measures. If a blocked tear duct is opened with surgery, the watering usually improves a lot, and most people are back to normal activities within a couple of weeks.
Sources: NHS: Watering eyes. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.