Why does my one eye keep burning and watering?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

A burning and watering eye is often caused by dryness, infection, allergies, or sinus problems. When these symptoms occur in just one eye, they may point to a localized issue such as conjunctivitis, a blocked tear duct, a corneal irritation, or a foreign object. Persistent or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor to prevent complications.

Because eye symptoms can stem from many different causes—ranging from minor irritation to conditions that need prompt care—it's important to understand what may be behind your discomfort before deciding on next steps. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to get personalized insights about your symptoms and clear guidance on what to do next.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

Sometimes, your one eye might feel like it's on fire and start watering a lot. This can happen when the eye is irritated. One reason could be dry eye disease. It sounds weird, but when your eye doesn't have enough moisture, it tries to protect itself by making extra tears, which can cause both burning and watering. Another possible reason is an infection, like viral conjunctivitis (sometimes called pink eye). This infection can make your eye red, sore, and watery. Sinusitis, or an infection of the sinuses, might also affect just one eye if it spreads or causes pressure in that area. Even COVID-19 has been linked with burning, watery eyes for some people. Each of these issues can cause discomfort and might need treatments like eye drops, proper cleaning, or sometimes more specific medications. If your one eye keeps burning and watering, you can start by using Ubie's free AI symptom checker to better understand what might be causing your symptoms, then follow up with an eye doctor or healthcare professional for a proper exam and personalized treatment plan.

(References)

The epidemiology of dry eye disease: report of the Epidemiology Subcommittee of the International Dry Eye WorkShop (2007). Ocul Surf. 2007 Apr;5(2):93-107. doi: 10.1016/s1542-0124(12)70082-4. PMID: 17508117.
Radovani P, Vasili D, Xhelili M, Dervishi J. Orbital complications of sinusitis. Balkan Med J. 2013 Jun;30(2):151-4. doi: 10.5152/balkanmedj.2013.8005. Epub 2013 Jun 1. PMID: 25207092; PMCID: PMC4115963.
Rokohl AC, Loreck N, Wawer Matos PA, Zwingelberg S, Augustin M, Dewald F, Grajewski RS, Klein F, Lehmann C, Heindl LM. More than loss of taste and smell: burning watering eyes in coronavirus disease 2019. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2020 Nov;26(11):1560.e5-1560.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.08.018. Epub 2020 Aug 21. PMID: 32835793; PMCID: PMC7442009.

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