Published April 5, 2022
Cancer is an intimidating word to hear because it evokes frightening thoughts and images. Most people immediately jump to the worst-case scenarios in their mind when they hear this word, and it is understandable that people have a certain level of fear associated with something that is this high-stakes.
Given the nature of what cancer could mean for someone diagnosed with it, it is often the case that people will look for any early warning signs that they can possibly detect to see if they can detect what might be going on with their body even before it is abundantly obvious. One thing that some people will be on the lookout for is what they can do if their eyes start to water an unusual amount.
Is A Watery Eye An Early Sign Of Cancer?
A watery eye at the end of an emotional movie or during a traumatic event in real life is something that we expect. However, when one’s eyes start to water without any known reason, it can be troubling for the person experiencing this. You may start to wonder why this is happening and ask, “Can watery eyes be a symptom of cancer?”.
Research suggests that watery eyes may be a symptom of cancer.1
Symptoms of eye cancer in adults and children differ greatly. Most eye cancer symptoms are influenced by the type of cancer. Some of the most common eye cancer symptoms in adults include tiny floating specks in the field of vision (most often non-cancerous), bulging eyes, red or watering eyes, eye pain, dark spots on the iris, and blurred vision.
What this means is that you aren’t crazy for wanting to get yourself checked out if you have recently experienced a watery eye. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have eye cancer, but it is better to be on the safe side and get things checked out than to assume that everything is okay.
UK Teenager Discovers That Watery Eye Was A Sign Of Cancer
One challenging story out of the United Kingdom detailed how a 19-year-old, Tasha Jilka, learned that she had a rare form of cancer developing in her body after noticing a persistent case of watery eyes.2 She originally believed that her watery eye symptoms were likely a reaction to allergies or perhaps to some of the cosmetic products that she was using at the time.
When she went to get it checked out, it turned out that she had a tumor known as olfactory neuroblastoma that was causing her problems. This tumor was located at the back of her nose, and it was likely pushing on the tear ducts in her eyes, causing them to water.
The good news in this story is that doctors were able to remove the tumor, but they had to reconstruct Tasha’s entire face to do so. It took many doctor’s visits over a number of years for medical professionals to figure out what was going on. Had Tasha and her doctors simply chopped up her symptoms into allergic reactions for too long, the outcome could have been much worse. It is yet another cautionary tale about taking unusual eye symptoms seriously.
Can Dry Eye Symptoms Be Serious As Well?
It is not typical for patients to suffer from dry eye symptoms before finding out that they have a diagnosis of cancer, but it is also not impossible. Some studies suggest that this outcome is a possibility for those who have breast cancer in particular.3 Generally speaking, the more common issues that one might have with their eyes before a cancer diagnosis include:
- Bulging eyes
- Red or watery eyes
- Specks in one’s field of vision
- Eye pain
- Blurred vision
Those are all things that might cause someone to have some serious concerns about the condition of their eyes and if they should get a cancer screening while they are at it. However, dry eyes are a less common symptom.
Someone with dry eyes may consider purchasing eye drops to help alleviate the issue temporarily. Additionally, they might want to focus some of their energy and efforts on making sure they get away from screens whenever possible. It is a simple fact that excessive screen time can have an adverse impact on one’s eyes.
Alternative Causes Of Watery Eyes
To give you a complete picture of what is going on with your watery eyes situation, it is only fair that we also discuss some of the other potential causes of your watery eyes. After all, we don’t want to send people into a state of panic when it isn’t warranted. It is only right that we provide a balanced assessment of what could be going on in the event that you have a situation come up with watery eyes. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Eye Strain
Many of us spend hours looking at screens each day. This could be work-related, for fun, or some combination of both. It is likely that you spend more time on screens than you realize, which can lead to eye strain. Additionally, you may experience eye strain if you haven’t visited an eye doctor recently and need to check your prescription glasses or contacts. Those are all things that could cause you to experience additional eye strain issues.
Pink Eye
Do not forget the possibility that you may have an eye-specific disease, such as conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye). This poses a potential problem for individuals who may have come in contact with someone currently suffering from it. You should stay particularly attuned to any outbreak of pink eye in any area that you spend a fair amount of time in.
This eye infection is likely due to the rapid spread of these outbreaks, which can be a very contagious disease. You may end up with it if there are people around you who have it. It is known for causing symptoms of a watery eye, so be aware that this is a possibility. If you have pink eye but haven’t come in contact with anyone, you may have allergic conjunctivitis, which you should also investigate.
An Injury
You may have injured your eye or tear duct somehow and not even be aware of it when it happened. The human eye is very sensitive, and it is easy to cut or injure part of your eye with minimal or no immediate pain.
If you can think back to a recent time when you potentially injured your eye, you might want to get this checked out. You could be suffering from something that you didn’t even realize had happened to you in that moment, such as a damaged optic nerve.
Prescription Medications
Take a look at the side effects of any prescription medications that you happen to be taking at this time. There is a decent chance that at least one of them has the side effect of causing watery eyes. If that is true of your medications, then you may be experiencing that as a side effect. If the symptoms persist and/or worsen, you should consult a doctor.
How Chemotherapy Causes Watery Eyes
Certain chemotherapy drugs can affect the tear ducts, leading to watery eyes during or after cancer treatment. Some chemo agents cause inflammation or narrowing of the tear ducts (eyelids and surrounding tissues), which disrupts normal tear drainage. When this happens, tears overflow instead of draining correctly — a condition known as epiphora.
Medications such as taxanes and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), commonly used in chemotherapy, can also trigger irritation, dryness, or tearing. These drugs may induce changes in the eye’s surface or sensitivity, leading to vision changes and discomfort. In some cases, prolonged treatment can even increase the risk of cataracts or dryness in the eye vision area.
If you experience excessive tearing following chemo, an ophthalmologist can evaluate whether the tear ducts are blocked or inflamed, suggest treatments, and teach you how to stop watery eyes from chemo.
Cancer Can Start In One Part Of The Body And Spread To Another
Worryingly, cancer can start in one area of your body and spread to another. When this happens, and secondary cancer ends up in your eye, it is known as eye melanoma. This simply means that cancer has traveled from one part of the body to another. It is not welcome news because it means that cancer is now spreading throughout the body.
A doctor will have to assess each individual patient they see to get a better idea of the true situation they are in. However, there is no question that someone who is informed that they have eye melanoma needs to get in touch with medical professionals as quickly as possible. This is a very serious situation, and it requires immediate attention and treatment.
Natural Ways to Relieve Watery Eyes During Cancer Treatment
If your watery eyes are mild or caused by chemotherapy, several natural and holistic methods can help alleviate discomfort and promote healing.
- Stay Hydrated: Proper hydration supports overall eye health and helps prevent dryness that can trigger the overproduction of tears.
- Use a Warm Compress: Applying gentle heat over your eyelids can help open blocked tear ducts and ease inflammation.
- Improve Indoor Air Quality: Use a humidifier to maintain moist air and reduce eye irritation caused by dryness.
- Follow a Nutrient-Rich Diet: Consume foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and antioxidants to support eye tissue repair and immune function.
- Practice Good Eye Care: Take regular breaks from screens to prevent strain and maintain normal eye vision balance.
- Monitor Medication Side Effects: Discuss persistent tearing with your healthcare provider to adjust your dosage or switch medications if necessary.
- Gentle Massage: Gently massaging the area around the eyelids can promote natural drainage and enhance comfort throughout the treatment.
These holistic strategies can complement cancer treatment and help manage symptoms without interfering with medical therapies.
Monitor Your Symptoms
The most important thing you can do as an individual is to monitor your symptoms as they develop. When you first notice that your eyes are watering more than usual, it is probably pretty easy to blow that off. You can think of many potential causes (including those listed above) that might be the root source of this, and you just don’t worry about it as much.
However, you should still keep an eye on things to ensure that they don’t escalate into anything more serious. You should also monitor for other symptoms. For instance, if you notice a dark spot on your eye, how worried should you be about an eye freckle? If your symptoms won’t go away or if they worsen over time, then it is time to get in to see a doctor.
Whole-Body Wellness and Eye Care at Immunity Therapy Center
At Immunity Therapy Center, we understand that chemo and watery eyes are just one example of how chemotherapy and radiation can affect the body in unexpected ways. Our holistic approach focuses on total-body healing, which combines alternative and medical therapies to minimize side effects, restore comfort, and promote long-term health.
Our integrative healthcare programs help patients manage treatment-related issues, such as hair loss, vision changes, and severe dryness, while supporting overall wellness. Whether your symptoms are mild or persistent, our expert team works with you to develop a personalized care plan that strengthens the immune system, balances the body, and enhances your overall quality of life.
Contact us today to learn how ITC’s natural therapies and personalized cancer care programs can help you heal from your eyes to your entire body.
Written By: Dr. David Alvarez
Dr. David Alvarez is a Board Certified Medical Doctor from Universidad Xochicalco and Certified by the American Heart Association (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support).
Dr. Alvarez has been collaborating with Dr. Bautista as an Assistant Medical Director at the Immunity Therapy Center for over 6 years. He provides daily on site patient care and participates on the medical board on research and development of patient treatment plans and programs. Dr. Alvarez is a knowledgeable and compassionate Doctor committed to helping patients get to where they want to be health wise through a more holistic and comprehensive approach.
Sources:
- American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Eye Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/eye-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html
- DailyMail. Teenager, 19, who thought her watery eye was caused by make-up discovers it is CANCER tumour behind her nose. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2138048/Teen-19-thought-watery-eye-caused-make-discovers-CANCER.html
- National Library of Medicine. Prevalence of symptomatic dry eye in breast cancer patients undergoing systemic adjuvant treatment: A cross-sectional study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7451424/
At Immunity Therapy Center, our goal is to provide objective, updated, and research-based information on all health-related topics. This article is based on scientific research and/or other scientific articles. All information has been fact-checked and reviewed by Dr. Carlos Bautista, a Board Certified Medical Doctor at Immunity Therapy Center. All information published on the site must undergo an extensive review process to ensure accuracy. This article contains trusted sources with all references hyperlinked for the reader's visibility.