tearing /tir″ing/ , watering of the eye usually caused by excessive tear production, resulting from strong emotion, infection, or mechanic irritation by a foreign body. If the normal amount of fluid tears is produced but not drained into the lacrimal punctum at the nasal border of the eye, tear overflow will occur. If the lacrimal punctum, sac, canaliculi, or nasolacrimal duct becomes blocked, tears also will overflow. Also called epiphora.
