Did you know that you blink your eyes an average of 28,800 times a day? That’s around 20 times per minute! Pretty impressive, isn’t it?

Blinking is a natural bodily reflex. It’s something we do without consciously telling our body to do it. It’s also an essential part of healthy vision, helping to prevent eye fatigue. If blinking is impaired, the eyes can become more sensitive, drier, and even more sensitive to light (photophobia).

If you’d like to learn more about why we blink, you’re in the right place!

Blinking to prevent dry eyes

When you blink, your eyes perform a reflex that helps keep the cornea hydrated (the transparent front layer of the eye that allows light to enter). Blinking spreads the tear film evenly across the surface of the eye, preventing the cornea from drying out. With every blink, your eyelids distribute tears over the entire eye.

Blinking faster or slower depending on the situation

Blinking also protects the eyes from minor irritants. Thanks to blinking, small foreign bodies (such as eyelashes, dust, etc.) can be removed more easily. You can think of blinking as a windshield wiper! When something irritates your eye, you naturally blink more quickly. Once again, this is a natural reflex that helps protect the surface of the eye.

Other situations can also increase your blinking rate, such as strong emotions, stress, or simply having a conversation. Now you’ll probably start paying attention to how often you blink depending on the situation!

On the other hand, when you’re looking at screens or reading, you blink much less often (usually without even noticing). This helps explain why these activities can lead to dry, irritated, or red eyes.

Nictation: excessive blinking

Nictation refers to blinking too frequently. In some cases, blinking can become excessive.

Blepharospasm

Blepharospasm is a condition characterized by involuntary muscle contractions affecting the eyelid muscles. These muscles contract suddenly, unpredictably, and repeatedly. People with this condition blink excessively, which can interfere with everyday activities, such as driving.

Blepharospasm may become worse in certain situations, including fatigue, bright light, and anxiety.

Symptoms include:

• Excessive blinking and involuntary eye closure
• Vision problems: difficulty keeping one or both eyes open
• Discomfort in everyday life
  
  

Treatments include:

• Botulinum toxin injections
• Prescription medications
• Surgery
  
  

Other causes

Certain medical conditions and some medications can also cause more frequent or excessive blinking. This is notably the case with:

• Neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson’s disease)
• Tourette syndrome
• Certain psychiatric medications
  
  

Inflammation of the eyelid or the iris can also temporarily cause excessive blinking.

Still curious? The Binocle team has one last fun fact for you!

Babies blink much less often than adults: around twice per minute. That’s why they often seem fascinated and completely absorbed by what’s happening around them... And sorry, they’re not always staring at you because you’re so good-looking!

However, excessive blinking in a child can sometimes be a sign of an underlying condition (such as a tic disorder).

We hope you’ve learned something new! Feel free to send us a message if you’d like more information. See you soon, Binoclards!