Question
I haven't been able to cry (no over-flow of tears)out of right eye for several months. Otherwise the eye seems normal, not dry or scratchy. Is being unable to shed emotional tears from one eye common or "normal"?
Answer
When a person cries it is the lacrimal gland that is supplying the extra watery tears that run down their cheek so if there is no overflow, it could only be the lacrimal gland that is malfunctioning. But in most cases if the tear glands were malfunctioning the person would experience a dry and scratchy eye. If you are young and very healthy, I guess there could be enough tears that you would not have the dry eye complaints even though the lacrimal gland sounds like it is underfunctioning.
I would not be too concerned about this as long as you have no other symptoms. But - the next time you are due for your regular annual eye exam, I would ask the eye doctor to check your tear functioning and try to figure out what is going on.
