• Question: why do eyes turn red when we cry?

    Asked by charlie13 to David, Luna, Probash on 24 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Probash Chowdhury

      Probash Chowdhury answered on 24 Mar 2011:

      Tears contain many chemicals (taste one – it’s not just water). Some of these chemicals help to keep the eye clean and healthy (when we are not crying), but too much of these chemicals (plus others released) when crying causes a slight irritation to the eye causing it to turn red (more blood comes to the surface blood vessels in case the irritations breaks through the outer membranes). Also rubbing the eyes makes them more red too.

    • Photo: David Pyle

      David Pyle answered on 24 Mar 2011:

      I don’t know! This is one for a biologist 🙂

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