Table of contents:
- What causes frequent blinking?
- When should this frequent blinking condition be treated immediately?
- How to deal with excessive blinking?
- This condition can also be caused due to Tourette's syndrome
Blinking is a normal body reflex. Blinking is used to prevent dry eyes, protect from too bright light, or other foreign objects that will enter the eye. Blinking also functions to regulate tears, keeps the eyes healthy while cleaning the surface of the eye. However, sometimes there are some people whose eyes blink more than usual. What caused it?
What causes frequent blinking?
Generally according to age development, babies will blink twice a minute. As a teenager, a person will blink more often, to 14 to 17 blinks per minute and this will persist until you get older.
Unfortunately, there are some people who have the condition that their eyes blink more than usual. Excessive blinking can sometimes involve just one or two eyes at a time. Some people also experience frequent blinking accompanied by other movements (tics) on the face, head or neck.
The causes of frequent blinking are generally due to dry eyes, tired eyes, and external stimuli that make this reflex appear excessive. The blink reflex will appear when a foreign substance enters the eye.
Another thing that causes frequent blinking can also be caused by an allergic reaction, so the eyes need to be given moisture by blinking. In rare cases, excessive blinking can be indicated by nervous system disorders, stress, conjunctivitis, or blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids).
When should this frequent blinking condition be treated immediately?
These frequent blinking eyes should be checked immediately, especially if you experience other symptoms such as red, watery, painful or swollen eyes. Later, the doctor will diagnose the cause of the symptoms.
You may be advised to do a complete eye exam, for example for problems such as ingrown lashes, corneal abrasion (scratches on the front surface of the eye), conjunctivitis, foreign bodies in the eye, or dry eye.
The cause of the blinking of the eye too often can be determined by examining a device called a slit lamp (slit lamp). This tool is a special microscope that is used to enlarge the eye. Excessive flickering is considered abnormal if:
- Affect daily activities
- Interfere with your eyesight, for example while driving
- The blinking went on for hours
How to deal with excessive blinking?
If the excessive blinking is caused by corneal abrasion or conjunctivitis, the doctor may prescribe eye drops or ointment.
The doctor may also give glasses if the excessive flickering is caused by blurred or unclear vision. Meanwhile, if there is a neurological disorder, the ophthalmologist will recommend that you undergo different or other treatments to a neurologist.
This condition can also be caused due to Tourette's syndrome
It should also be noted, excessive blinking in the eye can be caused by Tourette's syndrome. Tourette is a seizure or repetitive (very fast) movement that occurs when part or even the whole body moves repeatedly suddenly, and cannot be controlled.
Both children and adults can suffer from Tourette's syndrome. This disease usually appears at the age of 5 to 15 years. However, in most cases the attack of this disease disappears with growth in children.
It is currently not known the exact cause, but this disease can be co-inherited with other nervous system diseases. Tourette's syndrome is a complex disease, most likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
