Q. My eyes are watering – please can you help me?
A. Watering eyes are common and often get better on their own, but treatment may be needed if the watering affects your daily activities.
It's normal for your eyes to water in smoky environments or if you're outside in the cold or wind. An eye injury or something in your eye, such as an eyelash or a piece of grit, can also make your eyes water.
Sometimes watering eyes can be caused by a condition such as:
• an allergy or infection (conjunctivitis)
• blocked tear ducts (small tubes that tears drain into)
• your eyelid drooping away from the eye (ectropion) or your eyelid turning inwards (entropion)
• dry eye syndrome – this can cause your eyes to produce too many tears
Babies often have watering eyes because their tear ducts are small. It usually gets better by the time they're 1 year old.
A pharmacist may be able to help. They will tell you:
• what you can do to treat it yourself – such as cleaning and protecting your eyes
• if you can buy anything to help – such as cleaning solutions, eye drops or allergy medicines
• if you need to see an optician or GP
If after you’ve seen a pharmacist things haven’t improved you may need to see your doctor, or you may need to go and see an optician, as they are experts on eyes, and can help with minor eye conditions.
Treatment may not be needed if the watering isn't causing problems.
Q. I’ve booked a holiday and am flying, am I at risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A. Lots of people worry about flying for all sorts of reasons. Most people link DVT to flights but its actually the fact that this forms part of a ‘long’ journey. There are conditions which may increase your risk of DVT on journeys of
eight hours or more.
These include having a history of DVT or pulmonary embolism, cancer, stroke, heart disease, inherited tendency to clot (thrombophilia), recent surgery, obesity, pregnancy or hormone replacement therapy.
Before you travel, don't leave it until the last minute to buy medication, compression stockings or anything else for your flight.
Wearing compression stockings during journeys of four hours or more can significantly reduce your risk of DVT, as well as leg swelling.
The below-knee stockings apply gentle pressure to the ankle to help blood flow. They come in a variety of sizes and there are also different levels of compression, with the mildest being generally sufficient.
It's vital that compression stockings are measured and worn correctly. Ill-fitting stockings could further increase the risk of DVT.
Flight socks are available from pharmacies, airports and many retail outlets. Take advice on size and proper fitting from a pharmacist or another health professional.
During your journey, wear loose, comfortable clothes, consider flight socks, walk around whenever you can, drink plenty of water and don't drink alcohol or take sleeping pills. A little bit of planning ensures you can really enjoy that
holiday.
Ingrid Kent
Communications Officer
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Email:
Ingrid.kent@mbht.nhs.uk
Landline: 01524 518964 / x48964
Mobile: 07824 608 688
Web:
https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk/
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