Three Surprising Facts About Tears

We tend to think of tears as simply the result of an emotional expression, but they also play a crucial role in keeping our eyes healthy and comfortable, even when we’re not extremely sad, happy, or bored to tears. In fact, when your eyes aren’t making sufficient tears, you can suffer from irritation and dry eye. Our optometrists in Pittsburgh, South Hills, Greensburg, and McMurray at Lappen Eye Care can diagnose and treat dry eye irritation stemming from imbalances and problems with tear production. In fact, did you know that tears have three essential layers, each performing critical eye-health tasks?

1. The Oily Layer

The outer layer of your tears is actually made of an oil-based substance generated by the meibomian glands. These glands are located in your eyelids, and this oily layer keeps the tears smooth and prevents them from evaporating too quickly. This oily layer essentially keeps your eyes healthfully hydrated.

2. The Watery Layer

The famous water in your tears comes from the lacrimal glands. These are also located in your eyelids. The watery part of your tears cleanses your eye during each blink, removing dust and particles that shouldn’t be there.

3. The Mucous Layer

So, if the outer layer of your tears is oily, and the next layer is watery, then the inner layer of your tears is made of mucus. This mucus keeps your tears stuck to your eyes and helps the watery layer spread evenly over the surface for efficient cleaning and hydration. This mucus is made by the conjunctiva—the clear tissue covering the outer surface of your eye and the inner lining of your eyelids.

See Your Pittsburgh Optometrists for Problems with Your Tears

Your eyes have an entire system for generating and draining away tears, and when any part of this system isn’t working correctly, you can experience problems like dry eye. If you have any of the following symptoms, please schedule an appointment with us at your nearest Lappen Eye Care location: