When your child’s eyes blink frequently, you may be confused as to whether this is a problem or normal.
Blinking is a normal bodily reflex to protect the eyes from too bright light and foreign objects.
Not only that, but blinking can also prevent the eyes from becoming dry because it helps lubricate and clean the eyes.
You need to know that an average child blinks 3-17 times per minute. However, some children may seem to blink more frequently.
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Causes of children’s eyes blinking often
It is important to consult a doctor if your little one blinks too often or has other worrying symptoms.
However, this condition is rarely a sign of a neurological problem or causes vision loss.
Here are some possible causes of frequent blinking eyes that you can know.
1. Tic
Angry children tend to be prone to this condition. Tics are also usually caused by stress, anxiety, fatigue, or boredom.
2. Problems with the cornea at the front of the eye
The cause of continuous blinking eyes can also occur due to problems with the cornea at the front of the child’s eye.
These conditions include ingrown eyelashes, foreign bodies in the eye or under the eyelids, corneal abrasions (scratch or sores on the cornea), and conjunctivitis (red eyes due to inflammation).
3. Allergies
The cause of frequent blinking eyes can be triggered by allergies.
This reaction occurs due to exposure to certain allergens, such as dust or pollen.
4. Eyes are very dry
When a child’s eyes feel very dry, they will blink more often because of the burning sensation they may feel.
Moreover, if the child rubs his eyes, then the condition experienced can get worse.
5. Eyestrain
Eye strain can also cause a child’s eyes to blink frequently.
Reading in low light, spending too much time staring at screens, and lack of sleep trigger eye strain.
6. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental disorder that causes the sufferer to perform an action repeatedly.
This psychological condition can also cause a child’s eyes to blink continuously or face tics.
7. Blepharitis
Blepharitis is a bacterial infection of the eyelids that can cause the area to look swollen and red.
8. Refractive disorders
Refractive disorders can also cause the eyes to blink frequently in children. This condition occurs when a child cannot focus his eyes clearly and requires glasses.
The most common refractive errors are farsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
9. Cross-eyed
Crossed eyes can be the cause of frequent blinking of the eyes.
The direction of the eyes of a person with a squint does not appear to be straight or parallel, making it seem like they are looking in different directions.
10. Seizure disorder
In rare cases, frequent eye blinking is seen in children who have seizure disorders.
There is an absence type of seizure or in scientific language, it is called petit mal. This condition is rare and is usually experienced by children with epilepsy.
11. Neurological conditions
Several neurological conditions, such as Wilson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Tourette’s syndrome, are known to cause blinking in children.
If this continues, do not hesitate to immediately consult a doctor.
Several neurological conditions, such as Wilson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Tourette’s syndrome, are known to cause blinking in children.
If this continues, do not hesitate to immediately consult a doctor.
- Using glasses to correct refractive errors so that the child can clearly focus his eyes
- Psychological therapy if frequent blinking is triggered by stress, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Take antihistamines if excessive blinking occurs due to allergies
So, consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
Preparation before consulting an ophthalmologist
There are several preparations you can do before taking your child to an eye doctor for consultation. This helps optimize the process of checking the child’s eyes blink frequently.
Here are the preparations:
Record the child’s complaints about the condition of his eyes.
- Given the history of eye disorders in children, such as minus eyes, having an accident or surgery on the eye, and others.
- Record the drugs consumed by the child.
- Find out the history of genetic diseases that you may have.
- Bring your child’s glasses or contact lenses
- Bring the results of the child’s eye examinations that have been done.
Examination process by an ophthalmologist
The ophthalmologist will conduct an examination to determine the cause of the child’s eyes blinking frequently with the following steps:
- Checking the front of the eye
The ophthalmologist will use a special microscope with a bright light called a slit lamp to see if your child has a problem that affects the cornea at the front of his eye.
- Checking eye alignment
Crossed eyes are generally clearly visible so they are easy to diagnose. However, in some children, the eyes do not appear crossed or are sometimes crossed.
When a squint isn’t clear, your ophthalmologist will use different tests to check eye movement and see how well the eye is working.
- Check visual acuity
To check the child’s visual acuity, the doctor will ask the child to read the eye chart to determine whether the child needs glasses or not.