We blink regularly without thinking about it. Our brains know how to time it so that we miss as little information as possible. Yet you close your eyes for a maximum of 6 seconds per minute.
Optometrist Simone Stad of Specsavers explains why we blink. 'Blinking is not only important to protect your eyes, it also spreads tear fluid over the surface of the eye and removes waste. If you blink less, it means that your tear layer is renewed less often and you have a greater chance of dry eyes and irritations.'
There are three types of blinks
Blink out of reflex you do to protect your eyes. You react to unexpected visual stimuli, loud noises or touches. Spontaneous blinking make sure your eyes stay moist and clean, that happens without us even thinking about it. I blink one command is done consciously, like when you wink.
Factors that make you blink more often
The older you get, the more often you blink. Babies sometimes blink only twice a minute, while the elderly blink an average of 40 times a minute. This may be due to the layer of fat on your eye that diminishes as you get older, but living conditions or use of medication can also play a role. This tries to compensate the eye by blinking. Furthermore, the humidity has a major influence on how often you blink. If the air is dry, blink more often to keep your eyes moist. When you are concentrated on a task, you blink less.
Read also: 5 facts about blinking
