\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. But the gas is also what causes your eyes to water when chopping onions, said Dr. Robert Rosa Jr., an ophthalmologist at the Texas A&M College of Medicine. Cutting chilled onions quickly using a sharp knife is the best way to prevent your eyes from getting watery. Why do onions burn my eyes? Answer (1 of 2): Different people react to onions in a different manner. These are clear glasses with a spongey liner around the rim. For example, a tiny amount of onion may trigger no symptoms or mild symptoms, whereas eating a larger amount of onion may cause more severe symptoms. If you dont want to wait 15 minutes for the onion to soak, you can cut the onion under running water. Be wary of the one-size-fits-all onion goggles you can find online. (While I'd like to say it was the Oreo, my gut tells me otherwise.). You're better off with a different method. Antihistamines may also help. immediately and continuously, and go to the er. I read the. Antihistamines can help with mild symptoms, but it is essential that a person has epinephrine auto-injector devices on them in case they experience severe allergic reactions. Also, some people are more sensitive to this gas than others, he said. But the act of standing over the sink and thrusting my arm into that cold stream of water led to relief. It is also better to peel the onions and cut them in half or quarters before soaking them. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency. If you don't mind your diced onions being cold, go ahead and freeze them in advance. Propanethiol s-oxide, a sulfur compound released as a, from the onion reacts with the water in your tears to form sulfuric acid. So chop away and try using one of the tricks to minimize the irritation (google. This isn't the easiest method, but it certainly did work. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). They're the alium family, that's why it's called . The fumes from the onions will gravitate toward the wet paper towel instead of your eyes. And midway through my test -- after I'd tried all the methods and products once and was going back to double check using different kids of onions -- I noticed something strange. Although there is no treatment for food allergies, people can manage their allergies in the following ways: People who are allergic to onions should avoid them altogether. Food intolerance versus food allergy. According to an article in the World Journal of Methodology, doctors call this cross-reactivity. Can only irritate temporarily. My eyes seemed to have built up resistance to the effects of the irritants in the onions. The IgE antibodies may recognize and bind themselves to similar allergen molecules, causing an immune response and triggering an allergic reaction. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not require food manufacturers to list onions as an allergen. You can also stand by the porch and expose yourself to the air outside. Also to avoid this all together, a cold onion is less likely to cause tearing when cut. Some people also use contact lenses while cutting onions. Wash your hands thoroughly after chopping the onions to prevent exacerbation of the irritation. The fourth method is using goggles while cutting the onion. After 10 minutes, season the onions with a pinch of salt. hives or rash . To learn more, please visit our. This photo represents less than half the total onions I diced. 10 Kitchen Hacks To Prevent Watery Eyes While Cutting Onions, 2. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. As the reaction involves enzymes, the rate of reaction and amount of irritating chemicals produced can be cut by either damaging the enzymes or slowing them down. When an onion is cut open, it releases the sulfoxides and enzymes, which react and create a gas called syn-propanethial-S-oxide. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), every time a person is exposed to the food, an allergic reaction can occur. One of the reasons that your eyes are so sensitive to onions is that you have more sensitive pain-sensing nerves than other people. HealthTap uses cookies to enhance your site experience and for analytics and advertising purposes. These can alleviate symptoms of mild allergic reactions, such as itching. Maybe just bending my face toward the water reduced the amount of irritant reaching my eyes? Soak the onion in salt water. BOOK AN APPOINTMENT. The other chemical may permanently injure an eye. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. No: Onions, although they cause tearing of the eye, will not cause damage to the eyes. If a person is experiencing anaphylactic shock, they need emergency medical attention. Find out how food intolerances differ from food allergies, what causes them, The only way to prevent allergic reactions if you have a food allergy is to avoid the allergen. The ionic solution denatures the enzyme. If, after 1520 minutes, a raised bump appears, it is likely that the person is sensitive to that particular food. By using our site, you agree to our. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Another way of using a dampened paper towel is to put it around the front of your neck and let it absorb the gasses from the onions. A Web Experience brought to you by LEAFtv, Home Remedies to Clear Your Bronchial Passages. Saliva absorbs the vapors emitted by cut onions, preventing them from condensing on the eye and causing tears. Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere. Similar to the chewing gum theory, chomping on bread forces you to breathe the chemical in through your mouthrather than absorb it through your nose or eyes. However, in some cases, these symptoms may not appear until hours later. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in a minute. But is there anything else you can do? Onion. A cold compress can help to eleviate the symptoms of tearing and burning when cutting an onion. The concentration under any circumstances is not enough to cause any deep seated change. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Light a large candle near you before you start cutting onions. If a person thinks they have trouble digesting onions, they should discuss this with a doctor. It's a temporary sensation with no known long-term effects, nor will it worsen any other conditions, like pink eye," Rosa said. As you might have . However, no tears! Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. The first step in relief is prevention -- not exposing yourself to the gas or minimizing its release. tingling or itching in the mouth. Whoops. When you cut into the onion you are releasing this chemical and other enzymes. The cooling effect of mint gum is supposed to counteract the burning sensation. However, we have a better idea why onions cousin garlic doesnt have the same effect. No, cutting onions will not damage your eyes. Because onions grow underground, this gas helps deter critters that want to feed on them. While there was mild burning the entire time, it never escalated to full-on sobbing. They do not do any permanent damage to the eyes. Once you're able to prep dinner without a box of tissues by your cutting board, try our favorite recipes that let onions take center stage. Last Updated on January 15, 2023 by Shari Mason. Some people have a more extreme reaction when cutting onions where they feel like fainting or blacking out. But its best not to store onions in a fridge in the long term as they become soggy and soft and lose their flavour, as well as making an unpleasant smell. A sharp chef's knife will make it much easier to cut onions without shedding a tear. This, however, causes no permanent damage to the eyes. Freeze the onion. Onions are costlier than meat in the Philippines. 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