Our tears serve many purposes , and our eyes produce them all the time. In fact, did you know that we produce approximately 57 to 114 liters of tears every year?
Let’s know more curiosities:
And not all tears are the same. Basal tears are those that are in our eyes all the time and serve to lubricate, nourish and protect the eyes. The second type of tears, called reflex tears, are formed to protect the eyes from irritating events, such as wind, smoke, or onion. And there is some evidence to suggest that these two types of tears are chemically different from each other.
The third type of tears are the ones we probably know most about, the ones we shed after a fight with a partner or a highly emotionally charged movie: emotional tears. A study from the 1980s found that these types of tears may contain more protein than other types of tears, but the science is far from conclusive in this regard.
Tears have layers
Tears are not just saline. They are similar in structure to saliva and contain enzymes, lipids, metabolites, and electrolytes . It’s funny but each tear has three layers: an inner layer of mucus that holds the entire tear attached to the eye, a watery middle layer (the thickest layer) to keep the eye hydrated, repel bacteria and protect the cornea, and an oily layer external to keep the surface of the tear smooth so that the eye can see through it and to prevent the other layers from evaporating.
Is it true that women cry more than men?
According to German research published by The Telegraph , the average crying session lasts 6 minutes for women and 2 to 4 minutes for men. That same research found that crying ends in sobs in 65% of cases for women, and only 6% for men.
The older the less tears
Basal tear production decreases with age, and this can lead to the development of dry eye. Dry eye is a common problem for people experiencing hormonal changes, especially women during pregnancy and menopause. Contact lenses and certain medications can also cause dry eyes. If you have dry eye, you can also be prone to blepharitis, a common cause of eyelid irritation or swelling.
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