Excesstive Tearing

[Katie633]

I had an infection in my right eye and started to spread to the left eye. I went to my opthamologist.  The doctor prescribed Tobramycin and Pataday. Using both eye drops the condition got better with just a bit in the right eye.
My opthamologist took me off the antibiotic and told me to do the Pataday (allergy drops).  Which I have.  Yet, my right eye is tearing excessively and my right eye is tearing a little bit.  The inner tear duct is very itchy and sting at times.I already got another opionion and was told that it's allergies.  My eyes tear so much that I have to wear sun glasses all the time or else people think I am crying.  It's becoming very annoying.  It's very difficult driving while your eyes are tearing all the time.  Also, the light outdoors is so very bright, I have to wear very dark sunglasses.
It had seemed to flare up after I contacted pink eye.  The whites of my eyes are fine, but tearing is so very excessive.   Do you have any suggestions?

[Katie633]

A related discussion, excessive tearing was started.

[Katie633]

A related discussion, Excesstive Tearing was started.

[Katie633]

I've been dealing with this problem now for about three years.  I don't think my opthamologist knows exactly what is going on.  Isn't there any way of the doctor to take a tear sample and have a culture done?  That seems to be the only way of finding out whether there is a bacterial thing going on.  If I suggest this to the doctor, she will shrug it off and just say that she can't see any sign of infection and that it's an alergic reaction to something.  So, what do I do?  

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear Katie633,

I would recommend that you go back to your eyeMD to determine the cause of increased light sensitivity and tearing.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California