DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Eye tears are usually associated with crying due to sadness, fear or anxiety or any reason related to human emotions.

But what if the tears aren’t related to feelings and are a symptom of a specific medical condition?

Tears of unknown cause may refer to:

Allergic conjunctivitis

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America states that allergic inflammation of the conjunctiva—the membrane that covers the eye—is a reaction to various allergens. This inflammation leads to many symptoms including watery eyes.

Cold and flu

A cold or flu can be a cause of watery eyes, an article published on scientific research site PubMed pointed out that common symptoms of colds and flu are watery eyes, high temperature and nasal congestion.

Dysfunction of the sebaceous glands

In another article published by the scientific review site PubMed, one of the functions of the meibomian glands, which are sebaceous glands located at the edge of the eyelid, is to secrete lipids necessary to prevent and maintain tear evaporation. Equilibrium of ocular surface.

And if these glands are blocked or if there is any deficiency and disturbances in them, and when the fat layer in the water membrane of the tears decreases, this will lead to an increase in the evaporation of the tears. Following an increase in their compensatory secretions, according to those posted on the site.

Blockage of tear ducts

The official website of Coventry University Hospital for the National Health Service in Britain showed a link between tear duct blockage and increased tear secretion. Excessive tear production is usually caused by blockages in the drainage ducts.

The tear ducts are small tubes that drain tears, and if the tear duct becomes blocked and leads to inflammation of the lacrimal sac next to the bridge of the nose, painful swelling can occur, leading to tearing.

The condition can be dangerous if the large amount of tears causes severe symptoms, and a new tear duct can then be created with a surgery called “nasal tear fragmentation.”

Drooping of the eyelid from the eye

According to the Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital website in Australia, drooping or inward eyelids or any other eyelid problems can cause tears.

The most important signs and symptoms of eyelid drooping are drooping of the eyelid, drooping of one or both eyelids, leading to increased tear flow and, if the drooping is severe, interference with vision.

Dry eye syndrome

It may sound strange, but dry eye syndrome is often associated with tearing. This is because dry eye stimulates the lacrimal glands to produce irritating and uncomfortable tears, which can flood the tear drainage channels in the eye, according to the National Health Service (NHS) website in the United Kingdom.

Bell’s palsy

Bell’s palsy is a neurological disorder that causes temporary paralysis or weakness on one side of the face, according to the website of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in the United States.

As the company points out, one of the nerves that control the muscles in the face is injured, or it may stop working altogether, and one of its main symptoms is tears from one eye.

Certain medications and cancer treatments

And taking certain medications affects the flow and volume of tears in cancer patients, according to a study published on the US National Health Service website that aimed to evaluate clinical features and treatment outcomes in patients who complain of tears after receiving it. chemotherapy, and included 17 patients with a mean age of 14 and 62 years, with a mean follow-up period of 9.6 months.

At the time of parenteral examination, the study showed total tear flow in 29.4% of patients, partial tear flow in 55.9% of patients, and no tear flow in 14.7% of patients.

Another study published by the site involving 11 patients receiving a treatment as an adjuvant treatment after surgery for stomach cancer showed that only 6 of the 11 patients had an increase in tear volume after taking the treatment. .