Eyes hurt after crying because salt in tears irritates the surface, rubbing, and muscle strain around the eyes.
Why
- Salt in tears irritates the eye surface.
- Rubbing and tissue contact.
- Muscle strain around the eyes.
- Swelling.
Duration
Fades in an hour or two.
What helps
- Cool compress.
- Artificial tears.
- Water.
See an eye doctor
If pain, vision changes or discharge occur.
Fact
Emotional tears contain stress hormones.
Why they hurt
Crying makes the eyes tear heavily, which can irritate the eye surface and the skin around it. Tears are 98 percent water with salts, proteins and lipids. Emotional tears contain stress hormones and more protein than basal tears. Puffy tissue and dilated blood vessels in the eyelids add to a heavy, aching feeling.
- Rubbing the eyes while crying scratches the cornea and irritates lids.
- Tear salt can sting dry or inflamed eyes.
- Muscle tension around the eyes and forehead, plus headache, adds to the ache.
Relief
Splash cool water, apply a cold compress for 5 to 10 minutes, use preservative-free artificial tears and drink water. The soreness usually settles within an hour or two. See an eye doctor for severe pain, vision changes, light sensitivity or a feeling of something in the eye that does not go away. Contact lens wearers should remove lenses if eyes hurt.
Why they hurt
Crying causes eye irritation from tear salts, eye rubbing, dehydration, swollen eyelids and fluid shifts in blood vessels. Emotional tears contain proteins and hormones. After heavy crying the eyes can feel sore and puffy, and headache is common.
Relief
Splash cool water, apply a cold compress for 10 minutes, drink water and use preservative free artificial tears. See an eye doctor if pain is severe, vision changes or redness persists.
Tear types and swelling
Tears have three layers: lipid, aqueous and mucin. Emotional crying produces a larger volume, with extra proteins and hormones such as prolactin. Crying for long periods leads to eyelid swelling from fluid shifts and nasal congestion, and rubbing irritates the cornea. Salt in tears stings the conjunctiva.
Relief steps
Splash cool water, apply a cold compress for 5 to 10 minutes, avoid rubbing, drink water and rest. Use preservative free artificial tears for dryness. Contact lens wearers should remove lenses. Persistent pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision or redness for over a day needs an eye exam. Frequent crying that comes with sadness for weeks can be a sign of depression, so reach out for support.
Based on data from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the NIMH
