Q: Every time I go outside in cold weather, my eyes tear a lot. What causes it, and can I stop it? – Andy K., Chicago

A: Tearing up in cold weather is common and can be triggered by a number of things. The No. 1 trigger is dry eyes, since cold wind increases evaporation of moisture from the top layer of your cornea, exaggerating problems with dryness you may have already. When that happens, your brain sends a message — “Dry alert!” — and orders your tear glands to juice up. If this is what’s happening with you, the first solution is to wear protective glasses or goggles to keep the wind from drying your eyes. If glasses don’t do the trick, you can try using saline eyedrops right before you go outside. Then refresh periodically while you’re in the cold air. Also, use a humidifier inside, and blink more to refresh your tears.