Keep blinking

Introduction Under normal circumstances, the average eye blinks 15 to 20 times per minute. Blinking causes the tear film to be normally distributed on the surface of the eyeball, which can protect the cornea of the eye, prevent the surface of the eyeball from drying, and prevent the damage of dust. However, frequent blinking is a pathological phenomenon.

Cause

Common causes of frequent blinking in children are:

First, inflammatory irritation: This is the most common cause, which may be caused by infections such as bacteria, viruses, and chlamydia, such as conjunctivitis and keratitis.

Second, congenital eyelid varus and trichiasis: some children because of congenital eyelids (medically known as eyelids) inversion, causing eyelashes to fall on the surface of the eye, stimulating the cornea (the surface of the black eye) caused tears.

Third, children with ADHD: refers to a sudden, involuntary contraction movement of a child's body, such as blinking, wrinkles, grin, shrug, etc., inattention and hyperactivity changes.

Fourth, eye fatigue blinking: including visual fatigue such as refractive error, especially caused by hyperopia, myopia, astigmatism caused by eye visual fatigue.

Fifth, neurological blinking: due to the stimulation of the nerve fibers that control the orbicularis oculi muscle, frequent contraction.

Sixth, habitual blinking: Some children have a history of frequent blinking because of one of the above causes. Through treatment, after the cause is removed, the habit of frequent blinking is still retained.

an examination

Related inspection

Eyelid examination ophthalmology

Under normal circumstances, the child blinks 15 to 20 times per minute on average, and blinking is a fast closed eye movement called blink reflex. Usually divided into two types, one is involuntary blinking movement, and the other is reflective closed eye movement.

In clinical practice, patients who are constantly blinking must first see whether there are bacteria, viruses, chlamydia and other infections, such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, etc.; second, check for congenital eyelid varus and trichiasis, children with ADHD and other diseases should be appropriate Can cause this symptom; if necessary, check whether the nerve fibers that support the orbicularis oculi muscle are stimulated, causing frequent contraction, providing a basis for further treatment.

Differential diagnosis

Discriminating diagnosis:

Inflammatory stimuli: In addition to increased blinking, there are also manifestations such as redness, itching, increased secretions, and tearing.

Congenital eyelid varus and trichiasis: In this case, the eyelid varus is the most common, and careful parents can find it.

Children with ADHD: This disease seriously affects the child's normal life, study and mental health.

Eye fatigue blinking: This is a protective reflection that can be adjusted to make the vision clear by constantly blinking.

Neurogenic blink: Due to frequent contraction of nerve fibers that innervate the orbicularis muscle.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.