We often think of tears only when we feel a strong emotion like sadness or happiness, right? But did you know that even right now, even as you read this without any emotion, tears are forming inside your eyes, protecting your eyes? Tears are not just something that comes from crying. They are essential for the health of our eyes. Today, let's talk about all these tears.
Simply put, what do these tears mean?
Tears are a clear, salty liquid secreted by glands in the upper part of your eyes. They are mainly made up of water, oil, and mucus . The service these tiny tears provide to our eyes is amazing.
- Keeps the eyes moist: Tears keep the surface of our eyes moist and healthy. This is what we call 'lubricating' the eyes.
- Protects the eyes: Tears wash away dust and dirt that enter the eyes. They also protect the eyes from germs like bacteria. Tears are especially important for protecting the cornea , the transparent membrane over the black eye.
- Helps with clear vision: Tears help us see clearly by focusing light from outside.
- Soothes emotions: You feel a little relieved after a good cry after feeling really sad, right? There's a reason for that. The tears we shed when we're emotional and cry contain neurotransmitters like acetylcholine . These help calm the mind.
- Expressing our emotions: Tears help us when we have no words to express our feelings, such as sadness or happiness, to another person.
So you get it, right? Tears are not just a thing. They are very important for the health of our eyes. If your eyes are constantly dry, or if you are tearing up involuntarily, don't ignore it. The best thing to do is to see an ophthalmologist, a doctor who specializes in eyes, to find out the cause.
There are three types of tears that come from our eyes.
Yes, you're right. Even though we say tears, they are all different. We don't always have the same type of tears. Our eyes produce three types of tears, each suited to a specific need, at a specific time.
| Type of Tear | What does it do? (What does it do?) |
|---|---|
| Basal Tears | These are the tears that are constantly in our eyes. These tears constantly remain on the surface of the eye to keep it moist, nourish it, and protect it from dust. They do not drain out of the eye. |
| Reflex Tears | Imagine you're chopping an onion. These tears come out of your eyes like water. When something foreign comes into your eyes, like dust or smoke, these tears come out to wash it away. They even contain antibodies that fight bacteria. |
| Emotional Tears | This is the type of tear we are all familiar with. These tears come when we experience strong emotions like extreme happiness, sadness, or anger. According to scientists, these tears help release stress hormones from the body. |
Tears are made up of three layers.
A teardrop is not just a drop of water. It is like a thin membrane. This membrane has three layers. All three work together to protect our eyes.
1. Outer oily layer
This oil layer is what keeps the surface of the tear film smooth. That's why we can see clearly. Another important thing is that this oil layer stops the water layer inside from evaporating too quickly. That means it reduces eye dryness.
2. Middle watery layer
This is the thickest and most important part of the tear film. It provides moisture to the eyes, nourishes the eye tissue, and protects the cornea from germs.
3. Inner mucus layer
This sticky layer is what keeps the two layers above firmly attached to the surface of the eye. Without it, the tear film would not spread evenly across the eye.
Why do tears taste salty?
It's very simple. Our sweat, saliva, and tears naturally contain salts. We call these electrolytes . Salt ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium are what give tears their salty taste.
Common diseases related to tears
Sometimes tear production can decrease, increase, or the tear ducts can become blocked, which can lead to various medical conditions.
| Condition | What are the symptoms? |
|---|---|
| Dry eye | Feeling like sand or thorns are stuck in the eyes. Eyes become inflamed, red, and difficult to see in light. |
| Blocked tear duct | There may be excessive tearing, crusting of the eyes, crusting of the eyelids, and redness and swelling around the eyes. |
| Epiphora | Tears continue to flow from the eyes, even when you are not crying or laughing. This may be a sign of an eye infection or blocked tear ducts. |
| Dacryocystitis | This is an infection of the tear sac, which stores tears. Symptoms include eye pain, swelling, and redness around the eye. |
Ways to check the health of your eyes
If you have these symptoms, a doctor will examine your eyes. Here are some of the tests that are commonly performed.
- Slit lamp exam: This is a special microscope that actually looks at your eyes. This allows the doctor to see how much tear your eyes are producing and the condition of the tear film.
- Schirmer's test: This involves placing a small piece of paper on the edge of your lower eyelid for a few minutes. The amount of tears produced by your eyes can be measured by how wet the paper strip becomes.
- Tear breakup time (TBUT) test: This measures how quickly your tears evaporate. A special dye is applied to the eye and the tear film is examined under a microscope to see how long it remains stable.
How to keep your eyes moist and healthy?
There are a few simple things we can do to keep our eyes healthy.
- Protect your eyes from strong winds: If you are often exposed to strong winds, wearing something like sunglasses can help reduce dry eyes.
- Avoid cigarette smoke: Cigarette smoke is very harmful to the eyes. It can increase dry eyes.
- Give your eyes a break and remember to blink: When we stare at the computer or phone for a long time, we blink less often. As a result, our eyes dry out quickly. So, take a short break at least once every half hour and look into the distance. Remember to blink frequently.
- Use artificial tears: These eye drops, which can be purchased over the counter at a pharmacy, can help keep your eyes moist. However, if you continue to use them, it's best to talk to your doctor for advice.
- Take care of your eyelids: Soak a clean cloth in warm water, close your eyes, and hold it over your eyelids for a while. This warm compress stimulates the oil glands in your eyelids, helping to improve the quality of your tears.
Take-Home Message
- Tears aren't just something that comes out when we cry. They're like a shield that constantly provides protection, moisture, and nourishment to our eyes.
- Our eyes produce different types of tears for different needs.
- If you have persistent burning, dryness, or watery eyes, don't ignore it.
- If you have these symptoms, see a doctor, especially an ophthalmologist, as soon as possible. It may be a treatable condition.
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