HERE’S WHY OUR WORLD WOULD BE MUCH HAZIER WITHOUT ALL THREE TYPES OF TEARS

Do you know that tears convey messages?

These messages can evoke empathy or kindness in others. However, that is not the case for epiphora. This condition cannot be regulated or linked to only emotions, as it is usually a sign of conditions that affect the tear system or the eyes. Before delving into epiphora extensively, did you know there are different types of tears?

TYPES OF TEARS

There are three types of tears, each with distinct functions. Some tears maintain eye moisture, while others cleanse away debris and safeguard the eyes from infection. The third type, emotional tears, is equally crucial.

They include:

1. BASAL TEARS: Basal tears contain oil, mucus, water, and salt. They help combat infections, with the oil ensuring their stability and preventing evaporation. Blinking distributes them evenly across the eye’s surface, enhancing vision and focus.

2. IRRITANT TEARS: These types act as natural eyewash and spread by the glands under the eyebrows in response to irritants such as onions, vomiting, or eye debris. They flush out the offending material and are responsible for the streaming tears when allergies peak.

3. PSYCHIC OR EMOTIONAL TEARS: Intense emotions like sadness, grief, joy, or anger cause these tears. While sharing the chemical composition of basal tears, they contain higher levels of stress hormones and natural pain-relievers. Both humans and animals have compounds in their bodily fluids that convey subtle messages to others of their kind. Consequently, these tears can communicate chemical messages to nearby individuals, eliciting empathy, compassion, or warning signals. Kindness, compassion, societal suffering, physical pain, attachment-related distress, and sentimental or moral sentiments trigger emotional tears. Studies also suggest that individuals are more likely to experience emotional relief after crying if they receive support from others.

It may be of interest to note the different factors that cause epiphora.

CAUSES OF EPIPHORA

The most common factors may include;

Nasolacrimal duct blockage(blocked tear ducts)
Allergies
Certain medication
Irritants in the environment like dirt, smoke
Certain eye conditions like dry eyes, Blepharitis, and so on
Injury or trauma to the eye
Eye inflammation or infections
Tumors or abnormal growth like chalazion

We will stop here today, and in our next post, we will discuss symptoms, treatments, and prevention of epiphora. Visit TREETOP VISION EYE CENTRE(TREVEC), the best eye clinic in Utako Abuja, for a comprehensive eye examination.

TREVEC CARES !!!