There are many different kinds of tears — tears when you are feeling very sad, tears when you cry with laughter, tears when you chop an onion, and tears that simply keep your eyes moist. What is remarkable is that under a microscope all these tears look different. This is partly because at any moment the complex mix of ingredients change, but it is also because there are actually three major types of tears: basal, reflex and psychic.
Basal tears keep the eye moist and clear of dust. Such tears contain immunoglobulins which fight bacterial infection. Reflex tears are produced when there are irritants in the eye, such as dirt or vapours from an onion. These tears are also produced in bright light or when vomiting, coughing or yawning. Such tears are quite watery and basically aim to wash the eye out.
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