Many people wonder why onions make their eyes water just by chopping it up. They are related to garlic and chives. When cutting up an onion, it makes us shed reflex tears. Reflex tears are tears that result from an irritation in the eye by a foreign particle or from irritant substances. Their job is to wash out irritants that may have come into contact with the eye. As you cut an onion, you cut through the cells that contain a sulfur compound. This compound turns into a bad smelling gas. Since the substance in the onion is so strong, the eye treats it as an irritant. The onion activates nerve endings in the cornea, which communicate with your brain. The cornea is a dome shaped, transparent tissue protecting the iris and the pupil. From there, the brain sends a message to the lachrymal gland. The lachrymal gland’s job is to release tears and flush away the irritant. A theory to stop your eyes from watering when you cut up an onion is to chew gum. Some people even say that if you move your cutting board near the sink and turn on the water this will stop your eyes from stinging too.
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