The burning sensation in the eyes when they water is usually caused by an imbalance in the tear film and a condition called reflex tearing. When the eyes become dry or irritated, the brain signals the eyes to produce excess tears to compensate. However, these tears are mostly watery and evaporate quickly, causing the eyes to still feel dry and irritated, which results in the burning sensation. This can happen due to dry eye syndrome, allergies, irritation from foreign objects, or blocked oil glands that cause tears to evaporate too quickly. Environmental factors like wind, cold weather, and screen use can worsen these symptoms by accelerating tear evaporation or increasing eye irritation.
In summary, burning occurs because the eyes are either dry or irritated, and the watery tears produced to relieve this dryness evaporate quickly without adequately lubricating, leaving the eyes feeling both watery and burning.