Tear ducts are small tubes that drain tears from the surface of the eye into the nose. When these become blocked, tears cannot drain properly, leading to watery, irritated, or "goopy" eyes. Common causes include:

Before initiating any home therapy, a baseline examination by a primary care provider or ophthalmologist is essential to rule out congenital glaucoma, dacryocystocele, or intranasal pathology. If symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks despite faithful home treatment, or if any warning signs appear, seek ophthalmology referral immediately.