This is not a picture of human eye after crying

January 23, 2023 3:08 PM

For years, a picture of an eye titled “Human eye after crying” has been circulating on social media.

See Facebook posts with the claim that ‘Human eye after crying’ here, here, here, here,here and here.
See archived version of these posts here, here, here, here, here and here.

Factcheck

According to Rumor Scanner’s investigation,The image being circulated is not actually a picture of human eye bleeding while crying rather an eye with subconjunctival hemorrhage, uveitis or pink eye.

By keyword search, We found an article published on 11th September 2018 titled “What a Burst Blood Vessel In Your Eye Means” on an eye website called ‘Focal Point Vision’.

The article says, The blood vessels in the eye are very small and easily breakable. When they do break, blood gets trapped under the conjunctival membranes. A burst blood vessel in the eye is also known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage.

However, subconjunctival hemorrhage is often mistaken for conjunctivitis. But these are completely two different diseases.

By reverse image search, we found an article titled “A Sight for Sore Eyes: Conjunctivitis symptoms” on UK Private General Practitioner Dr Martin’s website on 12th December 2015.

The report mentions the type and treatment of Conjunctivitis.

Then we found a report titled “Uveitis” on an ophthalmology website named ‘Retina Care Specialist’.

The article says, Uveitis is inflammation or swelling of the eye structure that is responsible for its blood supply.

Then, From an article titled “What is Uveitis’ published on ‘American Academy of Ophthalmology’ website on 8th December 2022, we came to know that uveitis Uveitis occurs when the middle layer of the eyeball gets inflamed (red and swollen). This layer, called the uvea, has many blood vessels that nourish the eye.

After researching whether there is any kind of bleeding in the eyes during crying, we found an article titled “Is crying good for you?” published on ‘Harvard Health Publishing’ website on 1st March 2021.

The article says, “is crying good for your health? The answer appears to be yes. Medical benefits of crying have been known as far back as the Classical era. Thinkers and physicians of ancient Greece and Rome posited that tears work like a purgative, draining off and purifying us. Today’s psychological thought largely concurs, emphasizing the role of crying as a mechanism that allows us to release stress and emotional pain.”

After researching whether there is any kind of bleeding in the eyes during crying, we came to know about a disease called “haemolacria” on a health related website ‘Healthline’. We found an article titled “Why Am I Crying Blood?” published on healthline on 2019th January 2009.

The article says, Haemolacria is a rare medical condition, in which a person produces blood-tinged tears. Haemolacria is basically the beginning of another disease. So if you have haemolacria, you should see a doctor quickly.

After that, we contacted Dr. Omar Farooq, ophthalmologist and phaco surgeon at Vision Eye Hospital in this regard. He told Rumor Scanner, “Bleeding in the eye while crying is an absolute myth. This picture is of a diseased eye. This kind of redness is caused by inflamed sclera.”

That is, there is no bleeding in a healthy eye while people cry.

Bottom line

The blood vessels in the eye are very small and easily breakable. When they do break, blood gets trapped under the conjunctival membranes. A burst blood vessel in the eye is also known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage. In addition, conjunctivitis and uveitis also cause swelling of the blood vessels in the eye. A picture of an eye with such a disease is being circulated on social media claiming “Human eye after crying”. A healthy eye does not bleed from crying.

So, A photo of a diseased eye is being circulated on social media Facebook and Twitter with the claim that this is the condition of the human eye after crying; which is completely false.