👀 Why do we blink?

We blink to keep our eyes clean and wet! 🌊 Every time we blink, our eyelids spread tears over our eyes like a tiny windshield wiper. This helps wash away dust and keeps our eyes from getting dry.

Blinking also protects our eyes. If something comes near your eye, like a bug or a speck of dirt, blinking helps keep it out! 🚫

Blinking is like a superhero shield for your eyes! 🦸‍♂️ It has three main jobs:

1. Cleaning: Tears wash away tiny dirt particles and germs.
2. Moisturizing: Blinking spreads tears to keep eyes from drying out.
3. Protecting: It's a reflex to close your eyes when something comes too close.

Our brain automatically makes us blink, even when we're not thinking about it! 🧠

The Science Behind Blinking

Blinking is a complex physiological process essential for eye health. Here's why it's crucial:

• Tear Film Renewal: Each blink spreads a fresh layer of tear film (made of water, oil, and mucus) across the cornea, preventing dryness and maintaining clear vision.
• Protection: The corneal reflex causes immediate blinking when objects approach the eye at high speed.
• Rest: Brief 300-400 millisecond closures give photoreceptor cells micro-breaks from constant light stimulation.

Interestingly, blink rate increases during conversation (up to 26/min) and decreases during focused tasks like reading (3-5/min). 📊