Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) Practice Test 2025 - Free COT Practice Questions and Study Guide

Excessive tearing, also known as watery eyes, is medically referred to as epiphora. This condition occurs when there is an overproduction of tears, or when tears do not drain properly through the tear ducts, leading to overflow onto the face. Several factors can contribute to epiphora, including obstruction of the tear drainage system, infections, and allergies. Understanding epiphora is important for ophthalmic technicians as it can signal underlying issues that may require further evaluation or management.

The other conditions mentioned are not related to excessive tearing. Anophthalmia is a congenital condition characterized by the absence of one or both eyes, while entropion involves the inward turning of the eyelids, which can lead to irritation but is not primarily about tearing. Exophthalmia refers to an abnormal protrusion of the eyeball, which can result from thyroid disorders among other causes, but again does not directly involve excessive tearing. Thus, epiphora is clearly distinguished by its direct relationship to the phenomenon of excessive tearing.