Eyes swell after crying because the lacrimal drainage system can become overwhelmed, leading to fluid buildup in the surrounding tissues.
The Tear Overflow
When you cry, especially due to strong emotions, your body produces a surge of tears. This surge often exceeds the capacity of the lacrimal drainage system, the network responsible for draining tears from your eyes into your nasal passages. This overflow means the tears spill out of your eyes and onto the surrounding skin.
Fluid Absorption
The skin around your eyes is thin and delicate. This makes it more susceptible to absorbing excess fluid. When tears overflow, the tissue around the eyes reabsorbs some of this fluid, causing the area to swell and appear puffy.
Salt Content
Tears contain salt. The salt in tears can draw more water into the tissues around the eyes through osmosis, further contributing to swelling.
Vasodilation
Crying often involves increased blood flow to the face, a phenomenon called vasodilation. This increased blood flow can also contribute to the swelling around the eyes.
In summary:
Here's a breakdown of the key reasons for eye swelling after crying:
- Tear Overflow: The lacrimal drainage system can't handle the volume of tears produced during emotional crying.
- Fluid Absorption: The thin, delicate skin around the eyes easily absorbs excess tears.
- Salt Content: Salt in tears draws water into the tissues.
- Vasodilation: Increased blood flow to the face contributes to swelling.
