Tears have an uncanny way of sneaking up on us, whether from a touching movie scene or a sudden surge of emotion. But when they leave behind an uncomfortable sting, it can be both puzzling and uncomfortable. Many who have experienced this sensation may wonder why an unexpected burn can accompany such a natural response.
Your eyes may burn when you cry due to factors such as environmental irritants, sweat, dry eye, blepharitis, or eye allergies. Depending on the root cause, relief can come in different ways. A comprehensive eye exam is typically the first step, as understanding this common occurrence can help ease your concerns and shed light on the fascinating functions of our eyes.
What Are Tears?
Tears might seem simple, but they play a crucial role in maintaining eye health. The average person produces between 15 and 30 gallons of tears annually!
Tears are more than just salty water; they contain water, electrolytes, metabolites, and lipids. These components help lubricate your eyes, protect your vision, and wash away dirt and irritants. Together, they form the tear film.
The tear film on your eyes is made up of 3 layers: the oily, watery, and mucous layers. Each one plays a crucial role in keeping your eyes healthy and comfortable:
- Oily layer: This is the outer layer made of oils from the meibomian glands, which help prevent tears from evaporating too quickly and create a smooth surface for clear vision.
- Watery layer: The middle layer is mostly water mixed with essential proteins and nutrients. Produced by the lacrimal glands, it keeps the eyes hydrated, removes debris, and provides oxygen and nutrients.
- Mucous layer: The innermost layer, created by goblet cells, helps spread the tear film evenly across the eye and keeps it all stuck to the cornea, the eye’s clear front dome.
While these layers work together to keep your eyes feeling good, if they’re disrupted, you might notice a burning sensation.
Different Types of Tears
Not all tears are created equal. There are 3 main types:
- Basal tears: These are produced continuously to keep your eyes lubricated and healthy.
- Reflex tears: Triggered by irritants like smoke or onions, these tears help flush out harmful substances.
- Emotional tears: These are produced in response to strong emotions like sadness, happiness, or pain. They are often more copious and may even contain additional hormones and proteins.
Why Tears Can Irritate Eyes
While tears are essential for eye health, they can sometimes lead to irritation. Below are some possible reasons why your eyes might burn when you cry.
Environmental Irritants
Exposure to smoke, dust, or other irritants can cause your lacrimal glands to produce reflex tears. These tears help wash away the irritants but can also cause a burning sensation.
For example, getting dust blowing in your eyes on a windy day can trigger a stinging feeling. Once the irritant is removed, the discomfort usually subsides.
Sweat
If you’re the kind of person who constantly wipes away sweat while working out, you may already know the stinging it can cause if it gets into your eyes. This is because sweat has a high sodium content, which can be irritating.
Sweat can also carry chemical irritants from face products or cosmetics into your eyes. In such cases, your eyes produce reflex tears to flush out the irritants, leading to a temporary burning sensation.
Dry Eye
One of the most common causes of burning eyes is dry eye. This condition occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears to stay lubricated, leading to a range of possible symptoms, including:
- Redness
- Blurriness
- A scratchy or gritty feeling
Dry eye can also prompt you to produce even more tears as your eyes try to compensate for the dryness.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is a condition characterized by swollen, inflamed, and irritated eyelids. This typically occurs when excessive bacteria collects around the base of the eyelashes, but can also result from skin conditions such as rosacea.
This inflammation can impact the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the oil in your tears. If these glands aren’t functioning well, there might not be enough oil to keep your tears from evaporating too quickly. This means that even if you’re producing plenty of tears, they simply can’t get the job done.
Eye Allergies
Eye allergies can cause burning, watery eyes, and are often triggered by allergens like pollen, mould, smoke, pet dander, and dust mites. Crying or rubbing your eyes can exacerbate these symptoms.
Eye allergies may be easier to recognize, because, unlike other conditions, they can also cause sneezing, sniffling, and a stuffy nose.
How to Find Relief
There are several ways to alleviate burning eyes caused by crying:
- Warm compresses: Placing a warm or cool compress over your closed eyelids can provide relief.
- Cleaning eyelids: Use cotton swabs to remove crusts from blepharitis or a warm washcloth to clean irritants like dust, soap, and sweat.
- Artificial tears: Over-the-counter artificial tears can help lubricate your eyes and relieve symptoms of dry eye, blepharitis, and eye allergies.
- Eye drops: If your symptoms are caused by a bacterial infection, such as conjunctivitis, your eye doctor may prescribe medicated eye drops to reduce burning.
- Indoor humidifiers: Adding moisture to the air can help alleviate dry eye symptoms.
Treatment depends on your discomfort’s root cause. In the case of dry eye, your optometrist may offer powerful in-office treatments such as radiofrequency therapy that can address symptoms at their source and help you see comfortably again.
If you experience new or worsening symptoms despite trying home remedies and over-the-counter treatments, it’s essential to consult a professional. Chronic tearing and burning could indicate an underlying eye condition that needs medical attention.
Keep Your Eyes Comfortable & Healthy with Birring Eyecare
At Birring Eyecare, we’re dedicated to helping you maintain a comfortable vision. Our team is here to provide personalized care and solutions to help keep your eyes healthy. If you’re struggling with eye irritation or any other eye-related issues, book an appointment with us.
Don’t let burning eyes hold you back—take control of your eye health today!
