How does crying affect your eyes?

Have you ever had one of those days where you just can’t stop crying? Maybe you’ve lost a loved one and cry until there are literally no tears left? There is a very famous common expression for “have a good cry”; We have all heard it, and possibly even said it once or twice … However, what is the exact meaning behind it? Is it really possible to have a ‘good’ cry? Does the expression refer to your emotional state? Or maybe your physical condition? In this article we will explore the nature behind the tears that flow and the physical effect that crying has on our eyes.

We can cry for all kinds of reasons: the loss of someone close, a busy and stressful day, or even a good laugh can make us cry! In the midst of crying, we often strive to wipe our tears right away and just stop crying. Well, while we all know that it may not be that simple, research is now being presented that may not be the best option. There are three main types of tears: simple tears and basal tears, and stress-related or emotional tears.

Our eyes can start to water without any kind of emotional adversary. Watery eyes are due to a physical reaction and can protect our eyes from foreign bodies such as dust and debris. These are usually called reflex tears. Basal tears are a little different, but they still appear at a protective level. We all have a liquid layer that protects our eyes from drying out; that layer is known as basal tears. To ensure that our eyes do not dry out or receive any bacteria, basal tears keep our eyes lubricated in [almost] all the time. Generally, we know exactly what emotional and stress-related tears are; however, of course, there are many levels of intensity. However, recent research suggests that these tears actually differ significantly from any type of protective tear due to the components that make them up. However, in general, the additional lubrication of our eyes (through emotional crying) can only offer additional physical benefits to the eye.

While crying does not physically harm our eyes, crying for prolonged periods of time can cause temporary stressors on the eyes, face, and body in general. Believe it or not, producing [emotional or stress-related] tears actually do a lot of work for the body. Therefore, when you cry for a long period of time, you are literally wearing yourself out. Hence the reason we are always so exhausted after a ‘good’ scream! If you’re not hydrated enough, you could get a headache and generally feel completely weak.

Let’s face it: it’s hard to hold back your tears when you’re on the go! There are a few ways to try to stop, or at least slow down the flow of intense crying; Laughter can often play a role in that! However, if you are looking to cover your dark, circled eyes after a day of crying, there are other alternatives! You can go for the classic approach of wearing sunglasses or regular prescription glasses. However, you should be careful when wearing a pair of eyeglass frames because depending on your prescription, it can actually enhance your appearance! No matter how you choose to continue after a tearful day, just take comfort in knowing that the old wives’ tale was not far off … So feel free to go and cry well!