Why does my eyes water when I yawn?
By Fulton
@Fulton (219)
South Africa
6 responses
@shan_ab (377)
• India
19 Jun 07
During a yawn, there is a slight increase in the pressure inside the skull (likely caused by the slight increase in the amount of oxygen taken during a deep yawn). This causes the cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that sorrounds the brain and flows through the brain's ventricle system to be forced out than faster.
The fluid enters the lachrymal (tear) system. That increase in fluid pushes out the tears.
Hope this will help you.
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
19 Jun 07
whoa!! so those tears are coming from our BRAIN?!
thats kinda freaky lol!
@shan_ab (377)
• India
19 Jun 07
:-) Yes, many small things happening involantarily in our body involve complex mechanisms.
When thinking of such things, I marvel the perfection and complexity of the human body.
@BeachLover (520)
• India
3 Jul 07
I think you are spending continuous time in front of you computer. That is the main reason your eyes are strained and when you yawn, water comes out of your eyes.
For better eye health, keep washing you eyes each hour with cold water. Eyes are very precious and god's greatest gift to us.
Keep it healthy and safe. Have a shining day ahead.
@Fulton (219)
• South Africa
4 Jul 07
When I was younger, my Granny had an eyeglass that dated way back. When I had my allergies she used to bathe my eyes with milk (those days it was still unpasturised) and it worked very well. I'm going to try the water, it can only help. Thanks for the response and have a wonderfull day!
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
19 Jun 07
The American Medical Association says that medical authorities believe the watering of the eyes may result from pressure on the main tear glands, at the outer margins of the eye sockets, because of the facial contortions involved in yawning. The involuntary act of yawning usually includes opening the mouth very wide while slowly taking in a deep breath.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE3D71F3DF93AA35756C0A96F948260
@kevsgirlalways (5883)
• Malaysia
3 Jul 07
my eyes sometimes get watery when i yawn too. but not until i can barely see though hehe. sometimes when that happens ppl thought i was crying or something? haha. but i'm like, i've just yawned ok...
@maehan (1439)
• United States
2 Jul 07
I found little information as to why our eyes water when we yawn, the only thing I found said that when you yawn you essentially contract a lot of facial muscles. These contracting facial muscles squeeze your tear glands and your nasolacrimal duct forcing tears out into your eye. And that is why you "cry" when you yawn. Another said that it was just a coincidence of where are glands and muscles are. There is more involved than only the muscles and the lachrymal or (tear) gland.The more successful the yawn the more the eyes water.
