Blinking Of Eye: Types, Uses, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Blinking is a common reflex. Your body does this naturally to keep your eyes lubricated and healthy. But you may also direct yourself to blink when necessary. Blinking protects your eyes from allergens such as smoke, dust, and filth.

Blinking is good for your eyes. It keeps them clean and prevents them from drying out too much. Your blink frequency changes with age. Newborns blink only twice a minute or so. That figure grows as they do. Teens blink fifteen times a minute on average. For adults, the same is true.

Types Of Blinking 

Blinking is normal and good for you. Your autonomic nerve system causes you to blink without conscious thought. It happens organically. You may, however, also flash "on command." Blinking comes in three different varieties:

• Spontaneous blinking: The most common pattern of blinking is this one. Like breathing, it happens automatically.
• Voluntary blinking: This blinking is deliberate. You can, for instance, freely blink.
• Reflex Blinking: It is a natural reaction. This is how you blink when something is too near to your eye. Your corneal reaction kicks in if you sense danger, such as when a baseball zips by a car or you're stuck in a dust storm.

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Why is blinking important?

Not blinking would cause your eyes to become dry, inflamed, or uncomfortable. It would also make it harder for you to see well and greatly raise your risk of getting eye infections. Blinking helps to keep your eyes healthy in various ways.

With every blink:

• Shields your eyes from potentially harmful and irritating items.
• Keeps your eyes lubricated and pleasant by distributing lacrimal secretions, or tears, throughout your eyeballs.
• Eliminates dirt, dried tears, and dead cells from your eyes.
• Delivers nourishment and oxygen to your eyes.

Excessive blinking is the term used to describe blinking more than normal. It might happen often or sporadically. While it does happen, children are more likely to experience it.

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Causes Of Blinking Of Eye

A multitude of circumstances can lead to over-blinking. Included in them are:

• An inward-growing lash
• A corneal abrasion, or an eye scrape
• Something foreign in your eyes, similar to dust
• Dry eyes
• Ocular inflammation, sometimes known as pinkeye (conjunctivitis),
• Bloopers (spasms on the lids)
• Improperly developed eyelashes
• Unresolved ocular disorders
• Eyes that are crossing or unequal (exotropia)
• Mental or neurological conditions

More serious ailments might also be to blame, even though they are infrequent. Included in them are:

• A rare genetic condition called Wilson's sickness is caused by the body having too much copper in it.
• Neurological and spinal cord disorders include multiple sclerosis.
• Tourette's syndrome: an incongruous movement or sound condition

If the severity of your illness is higher, there may be more signs.

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Diagnosis Of Blinking Of the Eye

You will undoubtedly blink more while you are in discomfort. Bright light and temperature changes also contribute to it. You blink more while you're talking or scared. But if it happens often, you should see an eye doctor. The doctor will

• Examine carefully your eyes and see how they align and move.
• Examine the surface of your eye carefully using a slit light, a kind of specialized microscope.

They may send you to another kind of doctor for more testing if they think it's more than just an eye problem.

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Treatment Of Blinking Of the Eye

Frequently, there is no connection between an unsafe medical condition and frequent blinking. In this case, it could go away without medical help. The underlying issue influences the therapeutic options.

The doctor may prescribe eye drops, ointment, or other drugs if your frequent blinking is caused by an injury, infection, allergy, or inflammation in the eyes. Using a patch might speed up the healing process for your eye.

The doctor can remove anything that could be in your eye, such as an ingrown lash. Glasses may be useful if the problem is with vision, such as nearsightedness. They could recommend eye workouts or surgery if you need eye correction.

If the physician concludes that tics, concern, or stress are the root of your excessive blinking.

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