Why Crying Is Good for Your Eyes (and Your Health!)

Crying is a normal, healthy response to emotions like pain and joy. Although it can sometimes feel awkward or uncomfortable to cry in front of others, it can become an important part of our self-care practice when we connect with ourselves and engage healthily with our feelings. But did you know that crying can also play a role in keeping your eyes healthy? Vienna Eyecare Center explains more.

Crying is associated with both mental, physical, and emotional health. It can reduce feelings of stress and sadness by allowing us to take a break and focus on our emotions in a supportive environment. On the other hand, tears that are connected with joy or happiness can create powerful surges of positive emotion, which, when explored fully, can offer us significant improvements in mood..

Why Is Crying Good for Your Eyes?

Crying has several distinct benefits for eye health. Here are a few reasons why your eye doctor recommends that you cry when you feel like you need to:

Prevents Dry Eye

The tears we shed when we cry can keep our eyes moist and comfortable, especially in cases of mild dry eyes. Crying helps lubricate your eyes, which helps them stay healthy and free from debris or dirt. When the outer layer of the tear film becomes too thin due to dehydration or other environmental factors, it is essential to replenish this moisture by crying if necessary.

Rinses off Dust, Dirt, and Debris From Your Eyes

When we cry, our tears contain additional elements like mucus, which is released to remove any particles of dust or dirt that may be on the eye’s surface. Tears also prevent the eyes from irritation by washing away unwanted foreign objects and creating a protective shield over them.

Basal Tears Protect Your Eyes

Basal tears are lubricating tears that keep our eyes moist and healthy. These types of tears play a crucial role in protecting the delicate cells that line the eye as well as preventing irritation to the outer layer of your eyes due to air pollution, dust, or dirt. Although some people may experience mild dry eye occasionally, it can be relieved by shedding a few tears when needed. If it is not relieved naturally through your basal tears, schedule an appointment with an optometrist to seek further treatment.

Reduces Pain

Crying also releases an endorphin-like hormone, which acts as a natural pain reliever, allowing us to feel more relaxed and comfortable. This can reduce stiffness or soreness in the eyes while also providing comfort.

From eyeglasses and contact lenses prescriptions to eye exams, residents of McLean, Reston, and Vienna, VA, turn to Vienna Eyecare Center for their vision-related needs. Our staff offers comprehensive evaluations and treatments for a variety of issues and can provide individualized care tailored to your needs. Call us today at (703) 938-7633, or fill out our online contact form to get started.