22 Interesting Facts About Tears

It is natural for people to cry from time to time, and tears are a natural response of the body to various emotional experiences. A person can cry due to various emotions, both negative and positive, but in reality, tears primarily serve a protective function. For example, if a strong wind blows in your face, your eyes will start to tear up to protect them from possible damage. A similar reaction occurs if a foreign object enters the eye.

Facts About Tears

1. Under normal conditions, a person’s tear glands produce an average of 0.5-1 ml of tears per day, provided they are not crying.
2. Tears are produced not only by humans but also by other mammals, as well as reptiles, birds, and amphibians.
3. Our tears contain a certain amount of alkali.
4. The creator of penicillin, Alexander Fleming, was the first to notice that tears are not “just water.” They contain a substance called lysozyme, which can destroy microbes. Lysozyme effectively disinfects the eyeball.
5. About 98% of a human tear is water, meaning that tears contain about as much water as cucumbers do.
6. The chemical composition of tears is similar to that of blood, but unlike blood, tear fluid has a higher concentration of potassium and chlorine, with fewer organic acids.
7. Tears do not only exit through the eyes. Through a passage, they enter the respiratory organs and moisten the nasal mucosa. When lysozyme enters the nose along with tears, it helps to purify the air we breathe.
8. Tears carry as much information as a drop of blood: their chemical composition constantly changes depending on the state of the body.
9. Tears also help nourish the cornea of the eye with essential nutrients.
10. Tears can be physiological—reflex tears necessary for moisturizing and cleaning the eyes, or emotional tears, which occur as a reaction to emotional upheaval.
11. They are produced by the tear glands located in a special cavity in the frontal bone of the human skull, right above the eye sockets.
12. Certain eye diseases can lead to a sharp decrease in the effectiveness of the tear glands.
13. Emotional tears contain more stress hormones and natural painkillers (such as endorphins) than reflex tears, which helps the body recover from emotional stress.
14. Crying can have a soothing effect, helping to regulate breathing and stabilize the heart rate.
15. Humans are the only known species that sheds emotional tears as a response to feelings, such as sadness, joy, or relief.
16. The average person sheds about 15 to 30 gallons (around 55 to 115 liters) of tears each year.
17. Tear production tends to decrease with age, which is why older adults are more prone to dry eye syndrome.
18. Tears can be categorized into three types: basal tears, which constantly lubricate the eyes; reflex tears, which respond to irritants like smoke or onion vapors; and emotional tears, which result from strong emotions.
19. Crying has been shown to release oxytocin and endorphins, chemicals that can help alleviate pain and promote a sense of well-being.
20. People tend to cry more during winter, likely due to the dryness of the air, which causes more irritation to the eyes.
21. Some studies suggest that women cry more frequently than men, possibly due to social and hormonal factors.
22. Tears have antimicrobial properties, helping to protect the eyes from infections.