A mascara smudged face with tangled up hair was what the mirror had to offer 3 hours later. What a betrayal! This scheme to shatter her heart seemed to have many key players. Who was the referee because this game had to come to an end . Her eyes, her former pride, were red, too red to appreciate their former white and glassy being. Tears flowed, rudely crossing her cheeks, threatening to drown her, arrogantly breaking protocol and trespassing her face as though they were in charge. Were they really? Was there more than met the eye from wherever they came from? Had the long awaited referee finally blown his whistle?

May be he had, a little too early, before the game was over.

And this is where they came from…

Tearing is the process of secreting tears. Tears are a body fluid which often serves to clean and lubricate the eye in response to irritation of the eyes and often than not are a sign of emotions. Crying is the shedding of tears as a result of emotions while lacrimation is shedding tears without emotions. Tears are produced by a small gland- the lacrimal gland, which is located between the upper eyelid and the eyeball. When you blink a film of tears spreads over the eye, making the surface of the eye smooth and clear without which, good vision would not be possible.  So yes, tear are always being produced because our eyeball needs to be lubricated otherwise that little glance you steal of your crush will be punishable with pain. These tears are produced and drained within the eye and that’s why you are not crying right now. But wait a minute, what happens?

First things first, what are tears?

Tears are a clear body fluid composed of three layers produced in the lacrimal gland of the eye to serve the purpose of cleaning and lubricating the eye. We can call it the cleaning reagent of the eye. Tears occur in films and each tear film is made up of three layers; the oil layer, aqueous layer and the mucin layer.

1. Oil layer

It is the outermost layer and is often referred to as the film seal. It helps prevent the evaporation of our natural tears.

2. Aqueous layer

It is mainly composed of water.

This layer is responsible for lubricating the eye, washing away foreign particles and preventing infection since it has some antiseptic properties.

3. Mucin layer

This layer allows the watery layer to spread evenly over the surface of the eye and helps the eye to remain moist and lubricated.

It also provides the underlying cornea with nourishment and help the tears to stick on the surface of the eye.

Tears are produced when the lacrimal gland is stimulated. This gland is stimulated by the autonomic nervous system which is triggered by emotional reactions. Emotions are processed in a part of the brain known as the limbic system. This portion sends instruction to the gland to increase production. There are three types of tears: basal tears, reflex tears and psychic tears. Basal tears keep your cornea nourished and lubricated so your eyes don’t dry. Reflex tears wash out of irritations from foreign particles. Psychic tears are produced in response to a strong emotion such as:

1. Stress
2. Pleasure
3. Anger
4. Sadness
5. Physical pain

Psychic tears contain a natural painkiller called leucine encephalin, the reason you feel better after crying. Crying literally takes your pain. I think I should cry when my head hurts.

What exactly happens to make tears flow?

When there is excess production of tears, the drainage system is overwhelmed and excess fluid cascades over your eyelid and down your cheek. Some tears flow through a pathway called as the lacrimal punctum and subsequently explains the need of a hankie whenever your eyes decide to have more than a bathe but a foregone afternoon swim.

Ever noticed that when you are with this funny friend who just knows how to overwork your jaw muscles with a few words leaving you clutching you tummy with laughter, after a few ribs are cracked, tears also want to join the fun and get the joke? Oh yes, this film is taking notes and cannot MIA. Blinking contracts the lacrimal gland resulting to a little more tears being produced to the eye and oh well exploring the face doesn’t sound like such a bad idea. What is down there? Curiosity killed the gland.

Yaaaaaaawn!!! It’s late and I am still staring at this screen. A tear just dropped from my eyes. Was that a sign of appreciation for making them known? Or was it a warning that more are coming if I don’t stop? Am I scared? Definitely not, my stomach thinks I need to reprioritize, or else my heart will start burning.A burning heart for valentine?

When you yawn, contact between the two eyelids contracts the lacrimal gland and may be one or two extra drops of tears are secreted and ooh well, being the explorers that they are, the rounded cheeks offer the adventure.

Crocodile tears

These are tears of insincere expression of sorrow. This phrase originated in the 16^th century after crocodiles were observed to weep before devouring or luring their prey.

She looked up once more on the mirror and it was not any cooperative. Redness engulfed her normally jovial bright face. Tears had taken over her. Taken charge and stolen her glory as she watched. The pillow lay on the floor, its consolation no longer needed as tears had already marked territory on it as well. Another look in the mirror and an idea struck her. It was time she wore this invader with pride. She was the host of a tear film and no one’s opinion mattered. One more look up and the banks were broken once more and tears flooded her face again. How could he? Indeed this tear film was teary!