It’d Hard to Escape a Good Cry

The Different Types of Tears

There are going to be times in life when you give an abundance of tears. With the joys of life that we bring into the world to the passing of dear loved ones, it is hard to escape a good cry. Tears are often thought of as drops of water that come from our eyes, but they are more complicated than that. There are even different types of tears with different purposes to maintain the health and function of our eyes.  Dr. Aaron Workman of one of the highest rated auto injury medical teams in Lexington, takes a look at the different types of tears we experience, the importance they play in eye health, and the role they play in our overall health.

Basal Tears:

Basal tears are the MVPs of our eye’s tear production system. These tears are continually produced and help keep our eyes moist and nourished. They serve as a protective barrier against the outside world, preventing our eyes from drying out and maintaining a smooth, clear surface for vision. Basal tears also contain essential proteins and enzymes that help fight off possible infections.

Reflex Tears:

Reflex tears are the ones that come gushing when we react to irritants like chopping onions, dust, or objects in our eyes. They are like first responders, quickly washing away the irritant and protecting our eyes. Reflex tears contain a higher level of antibodies to help fend off any invading microorganisms.

Emotional Tears:

These are the tears that flow when we experience strong emotions like happiness, sadness, anger, or frustration. While their exact purpose is still debated by scientists, emotional tears are believed to play a role in emotional regulation and stress relief.

Meibum:

Meibum is not exactly tears, but it is a vital part of them. This is an oily substance produced by the meibomian glands in our eyelids. It is responsible for preventing our tears from evaporating too quickly. This part of the tear creates a protective layer on the surface of our tears, ensuring they stay on our eyes long enough to do their job.

With different types of tears possible each may play a unique role in our health.  Let us list some of those roles more clearly so you can see what tears do for you:

1. Maintaining Eye Health: Tears keep our eyes moist and nourished, preventing them from drying out and maintaining a clear surface for vision. They also contain enzymes and proteins that protect against infections.

2. Removing Irritants: Reflex tears help protect our eyes by quickly washing away irritants, preventing potential damage. These are experienced by most of us if we are ever outside with all the irritants floating around in the air into our eyes.

3. Emotional Expression: Emotional tears are an essential aspect of human communication and emotional release. They can help signal distress or happiness to others.

4. Stress Relief: Crying during emotional times can help reduce stress and promote a sense of relief. This is a great outlet for stress relief, so it is very healthy to have a good cry if need be.

5. Vision Clarity: Tears ensure that light entering our eyes is properly refracted, contributing to clear and sharp vision.

6. Preventing Dry Eye Syndrome: The meibum in our tear film helps prevent rapid tear evaporation, reducing the risk of dry eye syndrome, which can lead to discomfort and vision problems.

We often take body functions for granted but now you should better understand the importance of tears. The next time you find yourself with tears, remember that it is not just a sign of emotion or the onion you are chopping on the counter, it is another complicated mechanism that our body performs for us day to day.

— This article is written by Aaron Workman, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.

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Have you been in a car accident? If you or somebody you know has been in a car accident, be sure that you seek medical attention from a car accident doctor or car accident chiropractor to treat your injuries. Visit Chambers Medical Group  to receive world-class medical treatment for your injuries.

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