They are watery or red (irritated)

There are two main causes of watery eyes in children: the first is a reaction to inflammation of the eye, and the second is a mechanical problem in which tears are not properly evacuated from the eye.

In infants, the main cause of runny eyes is called imperforation of the tear ducts. Tears are produced at the outer corner of the eye; they lubricate the eye and then drain into the internal angle of the eye, into the nose. Sometimes, from birth, this pathway is blocked and can cause lacrimation. It is a benign disease that progresses favourable in more than 95% of cases, between 1 and 2 years, and it is something that should be monitored. Congenital glaucoma can occur in very small babies, but this is usually associated with extreme discomfort in the presence of light, intense lacrimation and large doll’s eyes. This is excessively high pressure in the eye, which is an ophthalmological emergency in infants.

The other cause related to inflammation is reactive lacrimation, most often secondary to conjunctivitis in children, typically in the context of a flu-like illness. It is also possible for small traumas to cause scratches in the eye, which require microscopic examination to rule out and treat these issues.