Have you ever wondered why we blink? We wouldn’t judge if you didn’t!
At Clarity Eyecare in Surrey, BC, we believe that maintaining healthy eyes starts with understanding how they work. One essential but often overlooked aspect of eye health is blinking. While it may seem like a simple and automatic action, blinking plays a crucial role in keeping your eyes healthy and comfortable.
The Basic Mechanics of Blinking
Blinking is a natural reflex that happens when your eyelids close and open rapidly. On average, we blink about 15–20 times per minute, which amounts to over 28,000 times a day. This action serves several vital functions for our eyes.
Lubricating the Eyes
One of the primary reasons we blink is to spread tears across the surface of the eyes. Our tears are essential for maintaining moisture, which keeps the eyes lubricated and comfortable.
Every time we blink, a thin layer of tears is distributed across the cornea, helping to prevent dryness and irritation. In particular, each time we blink, we activate oil glands (meibomian glands) along our eyelids. The oil from these glands is necessary to help stabilize the tears on the surface of our eyes.
Clearing Debris
Blinking also helps clear away small particles, such as dust or dirt, that may have entered the eye. When you blink, the tear film created flushes out these particles, reducing the risk of irritation or infection. This is a protective mechanism that helps to keep the eyes free from harmful foreign bodies.
Protecting the Eyes from Light
Blinking helps shield the eyes from harsh light and bright surroundings. The brief closure of the eyelids serves as a natural defence against excessive light exposure, allowing your eyes to adjust to changes in lighting without strain.
Supporting Tear Drainage
Along with keeping the eyes lubricated, blinking supports the proper drainage of tears through small ducts near the corners of the eyes. When we blink, the tear ducts help to remove excess fluid, preventing tear overflow and maintaining balance in the tear film.
Reducing Eye Strain
If you’ve ever spent a long time staring at a screen, you might notice that blinking becomes less frequent. This can lead to dry eye and discomfort. By blinking regularly, you can help reduce the strain on your eyes, especially during activities like reading, driving, or using digital devices.
What Happens When Blinking Isn’t Effective?
When we stare at screens, we blink half as much as we need to. In the short term, this can lead to dry, irritated, and tired eyes. But, in the long term, decreased or ineffective blinking can lead to a reduction in activation of the meibomian glands that line our eyelids. When the oil glands are less active, they begin to degrade, which leads to permanent deterioration of the glands.
Keep on Blinking
Blinking is an automatic and vital process that plays a huge role in protecting and maintaining the health of our eyes. From lubricating and clearing the eyes to supporting tear drainage, the benefits of blinking go far beyond what we might initially realize. If you’re noticing discomfort or strain, it might be time to come into Clarity Eyecare and discuss with one of our optometrists how you can support your eyes and their natural functions.
At Clarity Eyecare, we’re dedicated to keeping your eyes clear and healthy, so don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us. We’re here to help!
