Why do children blink so often?

Ophthalmology clinics often encounter parents who bring their children to the clinic complaining that they have noticed their children blinking frequently lately, and this abnormal blinking or even desperate squeezing of the eyes makes parents look at them and feel uncomfortable, causing them pain and mental anguish. Our normal blink (transient eye movement: the random or involuntary closing and opening of the eyelids, a protective movement) is usually 10 to 20 times per minute, and when it exceeds this range, it is abnormal. Abnormal transient eye movements are paroxysmal, frequent transient eye movements that occur in the absence of an obvious organic eye lesion. Frequent blinking in children is usually a so-called “minor” eye problem, and no ophthalmologist or specialist specializes in this eye disease, nor is there a special blinking clinic for children, so as an ophthalmologist you will often encounter these patients. The main causes of blinking in children include ocular factors: ocular irritants (conjunctival stones, conjunctival foreign bodies, corneal foreign bodies, chalazia, conjunctival granuloma), conjunctivitis, keratitis, eyelid impingement, childhood dry eye, refractive error, visual fatigue, blepharospasm; systemic factors: bad habits, localized tics (with twitching of the corners of the mouth or even shrugging of the shoulders, pediatric neurology should be consulted), and hyperactivity. ADHD, can be examined in both ophthalmology and pediatrics. Targeted treatment: 1. For irritating factors such as keratoconjunctival foreign bodies, conjunctival stones, chalazia, sarcoidosis should be actively excluded. For children with conjunctivitis, which is mainly characterized by congestion of the conjunctiva, an increase in conjunctival papillae and follicles, and a more pronounced ocular discharge in the morning, antibiotic eye drops such as Topaz eye drops can be chosen, one drop three times a day. For children with allergic factors, generally the eye itch is more obvious, like to rub the eyes, some children also have a history of allergic rhinitis, you can use an anti-allergic anti-itch eye drops such as research Lixin or Emetin, two to three times a day, a drop. For children with keratitis and punctate damage to the corneal epithelium, you can use antibiotic eye drops and eye drops to repair the corneal epithelium such as Bevosol (recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor) or Ebay (epidermal cell growth factor) one drop three times a day. If the presence of viral factors is suspected, this can be combined with ganciclovir ophthalmic gel. For children with dry eyes, in addition to the child’s complaints of dry eyes, a dry eye test can also help confirm the presence of dry eyes. You can choose to use artificial tears such as Hailu (German-made preservative-free sodium glassate), Bright Vision, and Ally to replenish tears and relieve dry eyes. In addition to photophobia, tearing, and frequent blinking, patients with eyelid impingement may consider surgery for impingement if it causes diffuse damage to the corneal epithelium or even detachment of the corneal epithelium. For children with visual fatigue, refractive error and poor visual acuity, appropriate treatment options should be taken, such as atropine pupil dilatation to release the spasm of the ciliary muscle to see if the child has refractive error, and if there is significant refractive error, scientific pupil dilatation and prescription. For children who often look at cell phones, TV, computers, and games, there is often visual fatigue, and visual fatigue can also cause frequent blinking. We should temporarily avoid exposing children to or even keeping them away from these electronic products, and let them participate in more outdoor activities, and look farther out, while using anti-fatigue eye drops. 6, If it is blepharospasm, you need to observe for a period of time, ensure sufficient sleep and rest, or even take oral nerve-nourishing drugs, most patients can be relieved. 7, if blinking is a bad habit, the child’s parents should do a good job of psychological guidance, so that the child learns self-restraint, avoid deliberate imitation, patient explanation and education, change the bad habit, to be corrected. Do not take the way to scold the child, let the child participate in meaningful and interesting indoor or outdoor activities, appropriate diversion of the child’s attention. 8, if hyperactivity, tic disorder need to see the pediatric neurology department or child psychology department to check. In addition, to ensure that patients get enough sleep, reasonable meals and nutrition, do not be partial and picky eaters.