Tearing Disorders

Tearing Disorders - Causes and Risk Factors

What causes excessive tearing?
Any emotional stress or eye irritation will cause an overproduction of tears. Blockage of the lacrimal drainage system is an important cause of excessive tearing. This tends to occur in older people and the cause of the blockage is usually due to changes of the nasolacrimal duct.

Article contributed by Oculoplastic Department, Singapore National Eye Centre

The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

Dr Yvonne Chung

Senior Consultant

MBBS, M Med(Ophth), FAMS

Clinical Interests: Oculoplastic, Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology

Dr Valencia Foo

Associate Consultant

MBBS, M Med(Ophth), FRCOphth, FAMS

Clinical Interests: Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology

TOP

[{"SHPageId":"792","BodyPart":"#Eye#","BodyPartLst":["eye"],"Institution":null,"SHDoctorConditionsTreatments":"#Orbital Tumours and Disorders#, #Upper Eyelid Drooping (Ptosis)#, #Tearing Disorders#, #Thyroid Eye Disease#","SHDoctorConditionsTreatmentsLst":["orbital tumours and disorders","upper eyelid drooping (ptosis)","tearing disorders","thyroid eye disease"],"SHDoctorAwards":null,"SHDoctorAwardsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgDisp":"Senior Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstText":"82ecbe92-920c-4e6f-8f4f-06028694ac6d|f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5;Head ＆ Senior Consultant|f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5;48d80a29-eabe-421e-aa61-202648168f9e|f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5;Senior Consultant|f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5;","ListSHDoctorClinicalDesgInst":[{"ClinicalDesgName":"Head ＆ Senior Consultant","ClinicalDesgId":"82ecbe92-920c-4e6f-8f4f-06028694ac6d","ClinicalDesgInst":"Singapore National Eye Centre","ClinicalDesgInstId":"f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5"},{"ClinicalDesgName":"Senior Consultant","ClinicalDesgId":"48d80a29-eabe-421e-aa61-202648168f9e","ClinicalDesgInst":"Singapore National Eye Centre","ClinicalDesgInstId":"f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5"}],"ListSHDoctorClinicalDesg":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstFirst":"Head ＆ Senior Consultant","SHDoctorAltDesgDisp":"","SHDoctorEducation":null,"SHDoctorEducationFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfile":null,"SHDoctorProfileFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchInterests":"","SHDoctorResearchInterestsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrials":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrialsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointments":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointmentsFullHtml":"\u003cp\u003eChair, Code Blue Committee, Singapore National Eye Centre (2015 - present)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","SHDoctorPublications":null,"SHDoctorPublicationsFullHtml":null,"SHQualification":null,"SHQualificationFullHTML":"\u003cp\u003eMBBS, M Med(Ophth), FAMS\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoRender":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/yvonne-chung-portrait.jpg?Width=210","SHDoctorThumbnailPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/yvonne-chung-thumbnail.jpg?Width=199","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"Dr Yvonne Chung from Singapore National Eye Centre","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":199},"SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/yvonne-chung-thumbnail.jpg?Width=199","Description":"Dr Yvonne Chung from Singapore National Eye Centre"},"SHDoctorPortraitPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/yvonne-chung-portrait.jpg?Width=210","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"Dr Yvonne Chung from Singapore National Eye Centre","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":210},"SHDoctorPortraitPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/yvonne-chung-portrait.jpg?Width=210","Description":"Dr Yvonne Chung from Singapore National Eye Centre"},"Email":"","SHDoctorRole":"Doctor;#","SHDoctorSalutation":"Dr","SHDoctorFirstName":"Yvonne","SHDoctorLastName":"Chung","SHDoctorOtherName":"Yvonne Chung","SHDoctorHideProfile":false,"SHDoctorPrimarySpecialty":"Ophthalmology","SHDepartmentLink":null,"SHSpecialtyLink":null,"SHSubSpecialtyLink":null,"ListDoctorAcademic":null,"ListDoctorClinical":[{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"792","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Head ＆ Senior Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Singapore National Eye Centre","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"http://www.snec.com.sg","Description":"http://www.snec.com.sg"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"Oculoplastic Department","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":{"Url":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/aesthetic-and-reconstructive-surgery/Pages/aesthetic-surgery-intro.aspx","Description":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/aesthetic-and-reconstructive-surgery/Pages/aesthetic-surgery-intro.aspx"},"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"yvonne-chung","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":1},{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"792","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Senior Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Singapore National Eye Centre","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"http://www.snec.com.sg","Description":"http://www.snec.com.sg"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology Department","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":{"Url":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/cataract-surgery/Pages/cataract-surgery-intro.aspx","Description":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/cataract-surgery/Pages/cataract-surgery-intro.aspx"},"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"yvonne-chung","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":2}],"ListDoctorSpecialty":[{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Oculoplastic","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Oculoplastic","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"792","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"yvonne-chung"},{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":2,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"792","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"yvonne-chung"}],"ListDoctorInstitution":[{"SHDepartmentLink":"#Oculoplastic Department#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":null,"SHDepartmentUrlLink":{"Url":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/aesthetic-and-reconstructive-surgery/Pages/aesthetic-surgery-intro.aspx","Description":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/aesthetic-and-reconstructive-surgery/Pages/aesthetic-surgery-intro.aspx"},"SHInstitutionLink":"#Singapore National Eye Centre#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"http://www.snec.com.sg","Description":"http://www.snec.com.sg"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":1,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"792","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"yvonne-chung"},{"SHDepartmentLink":"#Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology Department#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":null,"SHDepartmentUrlLink":{"Url":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/cataract-surgery/Pages/cataract-surgery-intro.aspx","Description":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/cataract-surgery/Pages/cataract-surgery-intro.aspx"},"SHInstitutionLink":"#Singapore National Eye Centre#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"http://www.snec.com.sg","Description":"http://www.snec.com.sg"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":2,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"792","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"yvonne-chung"}],"DoctorProfileInstitutionString":null,"DoctorProfileDepartmentString":null,"DoctorProfileSpecialtyString":null,"DoctorProfileSubSpecialtyString":null,"ListDoctorResearchAppointment":null,"DoctorResearchAppointmentItem":null,"StartDate":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","Path":"/profile/yvonne-chung","LastUpdatedOn":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","LastUpdatedOnString":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgLogo":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgURL":null,"SHContentTagType":null,"SingHealthInstitution":"","SingHealthSpecialty":"","TypeOfContent":null,"DoctorFriendlyUrl":"yvonne-chung","DoctorSpecialtyFriendlyUrl":null,"SHDoctorResearchEmail":null},{"SHPageId":"3219","BodyPart":"#Eye#","BodyPartLst":["eye"],"Institution":null,"SHDoctorConditionsTreatments":"#Age-related Macular Degeneration#, #Blepharitis#, #Cataract#, #Dry Eye Syndrome#, #Floaters and Flashes#, #Pterygium#, #Retinal Tear#, #Tearing Disorders#, #Conjunctivitis#","SHDoctorConditionsTreatmentsLst":["age-related macular degeneration","blepharitis","cataract","dry eye syndrome","floaters and flashes","pterygium","retinal tear","tearing disorders","conjunctivitis"],"SHDoctorAwards":null,"SHDoctorAwardsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgDisp":"Associate Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstText":"dd85756d-53cf-4600-b58e-99bb22f02aaf|f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5;Associate Consultant|f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5;dd85756d-53cf-4600-b58e-99bb22f02aaf|2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce;Associate Consultant|2db248c4-2112-4fcf-a07d-d2fdf93f21ce;","ListSHDoctorClinicalDesgInst":[{"ClinicalDesgName":"Associate Consultant","ClinicalDesgId":"dd85756d-53cf-4600-b58e-99bb22f02aaf","ClinicalDesgInst":"Singapore National Eye Centre","ClinicalDesgInstId":"f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5"}],"ListSHDoctorClinicalDesg":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstFirst":"Associate Consultant","SHDoctorAltDesgDisp":"","SHDoctorEducation":null,"SHDoctorEducationFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfile":null,"SHDoctorProfileFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchInterests":"","SHDoctorResearchInterestsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrials":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrialsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointments":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointmentsFullHtml":"\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eFellow, Academy of Medicine, Singapore (2023 – present)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eFellow, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth), United Kingdom (2020 – present)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eSingHealth Associate in Education (2022 – present)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","SHDoctorPublications":null,"SHDoctorPublicationsFullHtml":null,"SHQualification":null,"SHQualificationFullHTML":"\u003cp\u003eMBBS, M Med(Ophth), FRCOphth, FAMS\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoRender":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/SNEC/2308-SNEC-Dr%20Valencia_1485-hb-edited.jpg","SHDoctorThumbnailPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/SNEC/2308-SNEC-Dr%20Valencia_1485-hs.jpg","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":0},"SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/SNEC/2308-SNEC-Dr%20Valencia_1485-hs.jpg","Description":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/SNEC/2308-SNEC-Dr%20Valencia_1485-hs.jpg"},"SHDoctorPortraitPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/SNEC/2308-SNEC-Dr%20Valencia_1485-hb-edited.jpg","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":173},"SHDoctorPortraitPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/SNEC/2308-SNEC-Dr%20Valencia_1485-hb-edited.jpg","Description":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/SNEC/2308-SNEC-Dr%20Valencia_1485-hb-edited.jpg"},"Email":"","SHDoctorRole":"Doctor;#","SHDoctorSalutation":"Dr","SHDoctorFirstName":"Valencia","SHDoctorLastName":"Foo","SHDoctorOtherName":"Valencia Foo","SHDoctorHideProfile":false,"SHDoctorPrimarySpecialty":"Ophthalmology","SHDepartmentLink":null,"SHSpecialtyLink":null,"SHSubSpecialtyLink":null,"ListDoctorAcademic":null,"ListDoctorClinical":[{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"3219","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Associate Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Singapore National Eye Centre","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"http://www.snec.com.sg","Description":"http://www.snec.com.sg"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology Department","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":{"Url":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/cataract-surgery/Pages/cataract-surgery-intro.aspx","Description":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/cataract-surgery/Pages/cataract-surgery-intro.aspx"},"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"valencia-foo","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":1},{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"3219","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Associate Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Sengkang General Hospital","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"https://www.skh.com.sg/","Description":"https://www.skh.com.sg/"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"SNEC Eye Clinic @ SKH","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":null,"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"valencia-foo","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":2}],"ListDoctorSpecialty":[{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Ophthalmology","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":2,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"3219","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"valencia-foo"},{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"3219","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"valencia-foo"}],"ListDoctorInstitution":[{"SHDepartmentLink":"#Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology Department#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":null,"SHDepartmentUrlLink":{"Url":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/cataract-surgery/Pages/cataract-surgery-intro.aspx","Description":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/cataract-surgery/Pages/cataract-surgery-intro.aspx"},"SHInstitutionLink":"#Singapore National Eye Centre#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"http://www.snec.com.sg","Description":"http://www.snec.com.sg"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":1,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"3219","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"valencia-foo"},{"SHDepartmentLink":"#SNEC Eye Clinic @ SKH#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":null,"SHDepartmentUrlLink":null,"SHInstitutionLink":"#Sengkang General Hospital#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SKH-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"https://www.skh.com.sg/","Description":"https://www.skh.com.sg/"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":2,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"3219","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"valencia-foo"}],"DoctorProfileInstitutionString":null,"DoctorProfileDepartmentString":null,"DoctorProfileSpecialtyString":null,"DoctorProfileSubSpecialtyString":null,"ListDoctorResearchAppointment":null,"DoctorResearchAppointmentItem":null,"StartDate":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","Path":"/profile/valencia-foo","LastUpdatedOn":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","LastUpdatedOnString":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgLogo":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgURL":null,"SHContentTagType":null,"SingHealthInstitution":"","SingHealthSpecialty":"","TypeOfContent":null,"DoctorFriendlyUrl":"valencia-foo","DoctorSpecialtyFriendlyUrl":null,"SHDoctorResearchEmail":null}]