Blurred vision after crying is a common phenomenon experienced by many people. There are several reasons why this might occur:
Tears and ocular surface: When you cry, your tear glands produce tears to keep your eyes lubricated and maintain their health. However, excessive tears can temporarily change the shape of the ocular surface, including the cornea (the transparent front part of the eye). This can lead to light not being properly focused on the retina, resulting in blurry vision.
Swollen eyelids: Crying can cause the eyelids to become swollen and puffy. This can put pressure on the eyes, leading to temporary changes in the way light enters the eye and affects vision.
Redness and irritation: Crying can cause the blood vessels in the eyes to dilate, resulting in redness and irritation. The increased blood flow can also impact the way light is perceived by the eyes and lead to blurry vision.
Rubbing of eyes: When crying, people often tend to rub their eyes to wipe away tears. This rubbing can further irritate the eyes and cause temporary blurriness.
Dry eyes: Interestingly, despite crying being associated with tears, emotional tears may not have the same lubricating properties as basal tears (the regular tears that keep our eyes moist). As a result, after crying, there might be a period of dryness, which can lead to blurred vision until the tear glands produce enough basal tears to restore proper lubrication.
It's important to note that blurry vision after crying is usually temporary and should resolve on its own once the effects of crying subside. However, if the blurry vision persists or becomes a recurring issue even when not crying, it's best to consult an eye care professional for a thorough examination to rule out any underlying eye conditions or other health concerns.