# Leaking tear ducks from my eye anyone know anything? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 7, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaking-tear-ducks-from-my-eye-anyone-know-anything/180227 "2003-06-07T01:50:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dandmb50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba9def/32.png) [@Dandmb50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandmb50)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaking-tear-ducks-from-my-eye-anyone-know-anything/180227/1 "2003-06-07T01:50:38Z")
I;ve noticed tears leaking from my left eye for the last few months when I lay down to watch TV, and wondered if anyone knows anything about this problem. I just noticed today that it seemed to be leaking more and more and just wanted to know if anyone has had this problem before. And any info about this at all? ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaking-tear-ducks-from-my-eye-anyone-know-anything/180227/2 "2003-06-07T02:00:29Z")
Does a leaking tear duck echo? Seriously, I’m afraid that I don’t have an answer for you; I’m just feeling a bit anal-retentive, and wanted to point out that they’re tear **ducts** , not ducks. Also, tears don’t come from your tear ducts; they are actually produced by the lacrimal glands underneath your upper eyelid. Tears drain _into_ your tear ducts (and from there, into your nasal cavity). ---
**Author:** ![Dandmb50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba9def/32.png) [@Dandmb50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandmb50)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaking-tear-ducks-from-my-eye-anyone-know-anything/180227/3 "2003-06-07T02:03:20Z")
Okay okay, quack quack your right just a freudien slip. The fact remains whats happening is I am getting tears dripping from my left eye. I know this is not medical advice here but just wondered if anyone had experienced this before. Thanks for the correction I realized I made the mistake just after I posted it… ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaking-tear-ducks-from-my-eye-anyone-know-anything/180227/4 "2003-06-07T02:13:29Z")
Well, you said that it happens when you _lie down_, so one guess (and it’s just a guess) is that the normal tears aren’t able to reach your tear duct because of the angle. Of course, most people don’t seem to leak tears when they lie down, but perhaps you’re suffering from minor allergies that increase your tear flow slightly. I know that, with my allergies, I will sometimes have one of my eyes start watering profusely for no apparant reason, and then dry up again for just as little reason. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaking-tear-ducks-from-my-eye-anyone-know-anything/180227/5 "2003-06-07T02:57:11Z")
This could be anything, from a minor li’l nothin’ to a potentially serious infection. Get to a doctor. Finding sympathetic people on a message board is not a solution. ---
**Author:** ![cdhostage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cdhostage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdhostage)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaking-tear-ducks-from-my-eye-anyone-know-anything/180227/6 "2003-06-07T02:59:56Z")
I note that when I lie on my side for a while, the eye closer to the ground tears. Methinks this is fluid normally that stays on your eye (I have contacts- liquid lubrication is only necessary for me in the early morning) but drains to the outer side, and your eye is not wet enough so more tear is made and agian and again until enough is formed to actually leak out onto your face. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaking-tear-ducks-from-my-eye-anyone-know-anything/180227/7 "2003-06-07T10:09:19Z")
Don’t know what happens in people, but one of my cats has scar tissue on his right tear duct and can’t properly drain tears from his eye, so the inside and underside of his eye is always wet. IANAD, but possible a blockage in the duct, or something that causes it not to drain. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaking-tear-ducks-from-my-eye-anyone-know-anything/180227/8 "2003-06-07T10:47:20Z")
While we are on the subject of correct spelling . . . > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dandmb50 \* > Okay okay, quack quack **your** right just a **freudien** slip. > The fact remains **whats** happening is I am getting tears dripping from my left eye. > > I know this is not medical advice here but just wondered if anyone had experienced this before. > > Thanks for the correction I realized I made the mistake just after I posted it…