Our eyes naturally produce tears to keep themselves lubricated. When we cry, they become inflamed. Learn why this happens and how we can reduce inflammation.
Tears are a liquid produced to keep our eyes lubricated and, according to Jorge Hernández, an ophthalmologist, this works thanks to its three components: mucin, which is in the conjunctiva, in the closest part of the cornea and which attracts the next layer: the aqueous layer.
“The aqueous layer is produced by the tear gland and, above it, there is the oily layer, which is produced by the meibomian glands, whose role is to prevent the aqueous tear from evaporating,” explains Hernández, adding that the second is important because it carries proteins and lubricates the eyes.
Generally, these tears are produced all the time without any effort, and “we nourish them all the time through the accessory glands, which line the inner part of the eyelids,” explains Fernando Noriega, an ophthalmologist.
Sometimes they don’t cry.
Some diseases cause less tear production and make the eyes feel irritated and swollen. According to Hernandez, when the irritation is due to an allergy, it is because the conjunctiva is irritated and mucus is produced, which makes the tear less functional and adds that “when there is an allergy, patients complain of burning and itching, so the eye must be lubricated.”
Hernández also explains that when it comes to rosacea, the problem is in the oily part of the tear, which causes it to evaporate. “In the case of arthritis and autoimmune diseases, the eye is dry because the problems are in the gland that produces the aqueous layer,” he adds.
Therefore, ophthalmologist Jorge Hernández recommends that, when you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek a diagnosis from an expert and receive the appropriate treatment for your needs, depending on the part of the tear that is affected.
What happens when we cry?
Tears are a liquid produced to keep our eyes lubricated, but when we cry, our eyelids become swollen and red, and we have a runny nose. This could be a problem when we don’t want others to know that something has happened, so all we want to do is to reduce the swelling immediately.
When crying, the eyes swell because the vascular system of the eyelids becomes congested, says Noriega, adding that rubbing them increases their vascularization; “it cannot be avoided, it is a natural phenomenon,” and adding that, when waking up after crying, the inflammation occurs “because, when they are closed, it generates more circulation.”
According to Hernandez, when we cry, tears are produced by the tear gland, and “there is a nerve that makes it produce more watery tears; that is why it drips and drains from the nose, producing mucus, which is the same tear,” explains the ophthalmologist.
How can we alleviate it?
According to Noriega, anything cold can help reduce eye inflammation, as this causes the blood vessels to thin, thereby reducing the swelling effect.
Among the things you can apply to your eyes without damaging them are ice, chamomile tea, and cucumbers, all cold “so that the blood vessels close and the edema goes away,” adds Noriega.
Another option that some people opt for is to use vasoconstrictors, which narrow the blood vessels. “The problem is that they dilate the pupils and, by doing this, they can cause pain because the outflow of aqueous humor is blocked and eye pressure increases, which could cause an acute glaucoma crisis,” explains the doctor.
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