How fast is a blinking eye

How long do these blinks usually last? Keep reading to find out! On average the human blink lasts only a tenth of a second which is milliseconds. Sometimes, it can even last up to milliseconds. To put it into perspective, the tick of a clock lasts 1 second, making it possible to blink 3 times during a single tick of a clock.

Remember, this is just an average and the actual duration of a blink may differ between each individual. The human blink can be affected by age, fatigue, disease, illness, or even medications. The human blink rate may slow down if a person is using sedative drugs, if they are sick, or even if they are tired. Some people drink tea, coffee, or other caffeinated beverages in the morning to wake up. Using stimulant drugs like caffeine could speed up the duration of your blink.

The average person blinks between 15 to 20 times per minute. Scientists say that we actually blink far more often than is necessary to only clear debris and keep our eyes lubricated.

Scientists from PNAS dove into this phenomenon to try to figure out why humans blink so often. They hypothesized that eyeblinks aid in the release of attention.

Eyeblinks tend to occur most at breakpoints of attention. If you are listening to a speech, and the speaker takes a pause, you are more likely to blink during the pause than when they are talking. They found that, when blinking, there was an increase in brain activity.

This is most likely the brain taking a momentary pause to process the information that was just gathered. We know that the average person blinks 15 to 20 times a minute. But we also have to factor in the amount of sleep people get, but why? Other species blink faster or slower rabbits were clocked as the least frequent, about 1 blink per seven minutes.

Normally, a blink brings tears from the tear gland, which is located above the eyeball and under the brow bone, and sweeps them across the eye surface. Bill Gleason some years ago, in which blinking was videotaped. These tears were collected by the upper lid on its upward swoop after a full blink.

Then and only then was the inferior cornea washed with tears. However, the benefits of naturally rewetting the ocular surface are enormous. They are: fewer artificial substances in your eyes; less bottles of solutions to haul around; eyes that are less prone to redness and itching; less chance for infection because debris is frequently removed from the ocular surface; and cleaner contact lenses for crisper vision.

The only sure way to build a new habit, like proper blinking is by blinking. Try these blinking exercises:. It is important to be sure that your blink is complete and therefore effective. So, then how can you, the newly reformed blinker, know you are doing it correctly? You may also blink less frequently due to problems with your eyelid. Eyelid issues may be caused by:. In rare cases, frequent blinking may be a sign of a more serious condition. Conditions that may cause frequent blinking include:.

However, if blinking frequency is accompanied with other symptoms, it could be due to something more serious.

On average, most people blink 15 to 20 times per minute. This helps your eyes stay healthy by keeping them oxygenated and moist, and clearing out debris. While there are some conditions that can cause you to blink more or less frequently, a change in your rate of blinking is rarely a sign of a serious issue.

If you notice changes in your blinking and signs of an eye infection, neurological symptoms, or a recent eye injury, talk to your doctor. In this case, it may be a sign of a more serious condition. Your eye may hurt when you blink for a variety of causes, but eye pain treatments can help. Here's what you need to know. Have trouble blinking or closing your eyes to sleep?

You might have lagophthalmos. Learn what causes this condition and how to treat it. There are many possible causes for a sore eyelid.