3 year old with watery eye

I have a 3 year old son that started having an intermittent watery left eye on a daily basis about three weeks ago.  We first noticed it when he had an eyelash that had fallen in it and thought nothing of it at that point.  However, since then it seems to fill up with tears and he wipes it when it does.  It is not itchy or red.  When he has a bowel movement now both eyes water, but the left one much more than the right.  He has been congested with a runny nose for a couple of weeks, so we are not sure yet if he has allergies.  When I pick him up from school there is crust on the lower lid of the left eye.  It does not seem to be affected by wind.  Thanks for any information you can give me on this.

[Houman Vosoghi, MD]

He likely has a blocked tear duct in that left eye.  Given he didn't have symptoms till he was three, it may have been partial and now is worse with sinus congestion/allergies etc.  You need to take him to either a pediatric ophthalmologist or an oculoplastic specialist that sees kids to evaluate for this.  He may need a surgical procedure to probe the tear duct and possibly intubate it if found necessary.  First things first though and have him see the specialist.  If his eye turns red and has purulent discharge though take him sooner as he may have developed a secondary infection in the eye which sometimes happens when the tear duct is blocked.

HV