WTF is up with my eye?

[NotQuiteCockney]

For quite a while now, my left eye hasn't seemed to be draining properly. If it's windy, or if I have hayfever, I would end up with tears running down my face. (This has been this way for weeks, not years.)

This morning, my left eye was completely sealed with gunk. It looks a tiny bit bloodshot. No discomfort though. Is this a side effect from the eye not draining? Or something else?

I know someone who had a blocked tear duct.

Is the tear duct the bit that brings tears to the eye? Or takes them away?

My eye gunks up with conjunctivitis when i have hayfever. Does it feel gritty? Thats a sign of it.

Oh, no, you're right, it is the tear duct that's acting up.

Ugh, I just read up about it, and the normal fix is an operation. No thanks!

No, not gritty or dry. Just gunked up. I think the redness may be from the gunk.

The tear duct drains the tears from your eye down into your nose. It can get infected either from an eye infection or a nose/sinus infection. Infection can result from chronic inflammation from allergies/hayfever. Prolonged inflammation in the tearduct due to allergy or infection can lead to scarring and blockage. So - I guess the next step is a trip to GP and or eye specialist.

HTH, and that you get it sorted out soon. It is a real nuisance.

(It is always worth keeping tabs on the age of eye cosmetics, and chucking the old stuff out regularly - especially mascara, as it harbours all sorts of germs).

No eye makeup, so that's not the problem. I've not had pain in my tear ducts or any problem other than insufficient (or no?) drainage.

I should go to the GP, you're right.

Ok, it's obviously insufficient drainage, as it's not running all the time. Went to the GP and got a) printouts of a useful page on teary eyes b) a scrip for eye drops, in case it's caused by an infection in the tear ducts c) advice to come back if it doesn't clear up.

Oh, and I can also tell it's insufficient drainage rather than none, as I can taste the eye drops in the back of my throat. Ugh.