Sarah is the author of nine novels. The ninth hard cover, Above the East China Sea, was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2014. The soft cover is being released by Penguin on April 28, 2015.
Tear over-secretion is usually caused by irritation or inflammation of the surface of the eye. This can occur for a number of reasons, including eyelash and eyelid problems or allergies. Oddly, a dry eye problem can sometimes cause watery eyes, because the eye produces excess tears to combat the irritation and dryness.
Eyes are amazing things, so we need to protect them. You make tears every time you blink. When you blink, the tears spread out in a thin film over your eyeballs. Tears are made in tear glands on your upper eyelids. The tears flow into your eyes through tiny tear ducts and help to keep your eyes free things that could irritate them, like dust. Even if you're asleep, tears are still being produced! Your tears have a tiny bit of salt in them, which is antiseptic and helps to prevent eye infections. Used tears go down two tiny holes in your upper and lower eyelids to the back of your nose, where they are swallowed or blown out with your snot!