Tears: The Liquid Shield of the Eyes

Tears. They are far more than a mark of joy or sorrow, more than droplets that fall from the corners of our eyes in moments when words fail. 

They are the life of the eye itself, flowing silently, invisibly, every minute of the day. 

Whether you laugh until your sides ache, weep at a loss, or simply walk down the street on a hot afternoon, your eyes are always bathing in this sacred fluid called tears. Tears are not a weakness. They are strength, survival, and sustenance for your eyes. 

The biology is breathtaking. Each time you blink, a veil of tears spreads across your eyes, these magical things happen:

☑️ This thin film of fluid nourishes the cornea, which has no blood vessels of its own. 

☑️ It provides oxygen and essential nutrients, acting as a lifeline for the most delicate window of the human body. 

☑️ Within this shimmering layer, enzymes like lysozyme serve as microscopic warriors, protecting our eye from bacteria and infection. 

☑️ Tears prevent your eyes from drying out, keep the surface smooth and clear.

☑️ Perhaps a lesser-known fact is; tears form the very first interface that bends light as it enters the eye.

☑️ Without tears, your world would blur and distort; vision would be nothing but a fog of shapes and shadows.

So, tears are not only for the dramatic emotions of human beings. Even in the most routine hours, as you sit at a desk, read a book, or stir your morning tea, tears are silently at work. Basal tears flow in a steady rhythm, lining the conjunctiva, covering the visible eyeball over the sclera and cornea, and coating the inner wall of the eyelids. They are guardians that never rest. Without them, your eyes would scratch and burn with every blink. And when life strips away their moisture because of situations like dehydration, dusty winds, or the foolish bravado of riding a two-wheeler bike without a helmet with a visor, or at least protective specs, the price is paid swiftly in redness, haziness, and pain. You should not treat these vital and delicate parts of your body so carelessly. 

So let me give you a simple hack: if you see hazy, blink! Your eyes are crying out for that tear film to be refreshed. Never underestimate the power of this instant act. Blinking is something that your eyes love!

Now for the emotional core. 

☑️ Tears are a language no translation can capture. The tears of sorrow are heavy, burning as they fall, carrying grief from the heart to the eyes and cheeks. They are the body’s way of expressing pain. 

☑️ While the tears of joy, by contrast, are feather-light, sparkling, leaping out in surprise when happiness overwhelms. 

☑️ Both, however, are made of the same essence. They carry within them the memory of humanity itself! That we are delicate, fragile creatures who need expression, protection, and release.

What you do but should not do!

Different people call tears by different names:

☑️ The poet might call tears pearls of the soul. 

☑️ The scientist calls them complex fluids of electrolytes, proteins, lipids, and enzymes. 

☑️ The eye surgeon c.alls them his friends. 

☑️ A young girl may think of them as essential to get a new dress from her dad.

☑️ A young boy might think that showing them is a sign of shame.

But an eye surgeon thinks differently. Tears are ‘The Precious Living Shield of the Eyes’ for the eye surgeon! Ophthalmologists always discourage washing healthy eyes with water. 

Says Eye Specialist Dr. Tejas D. Shah of Amdavad Eye Laser Hospital:

“People washing away tears carelessly by splashing their eyes with water shocks me! They say they feel fresh! But in truth, they are stripping away the most magical liquid shield protecting their eyes.”

Of course, in infections like conjunctivitis, when pus appears in the corners of your eyes, you must wash it off and put in eye drops prescribed by your eye doctor.

Remember: 

☑️ Water cleanses, but tears heal! 

☑️ Don’t wash off the very precious gift your eyes have made for themselves!

☑️ Think of tears as the silent servants of clear vision. So let us treat tears with respect. Keep them safe by:

☑️ Staying hydrated

☑️ Shielding your eyes from dust, wind, and glare

☑️ Blinking often when screens, TV, phones, or computers stop your natural blinking rhythm.

Remember that tears are not a nuisance to wipe away but a magical liquid shield to cherish. They are, in the truest sense, the elixir for your eyes.