Parents often report excessive blinking in children, so why do children blink excessively and what eye abnormalities are likely to be associated with it? We have summarized some of the conditions that cause blinking in children as follows. Why do people blink? Blinking is a normal reflex that protects the eyes from dryness, bright light and contact with fingers or other objects. Blinking is also important for maintaining normal tear volume. Tears clean and nourish the cornea, which is the clear front surface of the eye. Newborns blink as often as 2 times per minute. This increases to 14-17 blinks per minute in adolescents and is maintained throughout life. Normally, blink frequency increases with painful stimuli, bright light, changes in temperature and humidity, and conversation. What is excessive blinking? Excessive blinking is more frequent than the usual blinking. It can involve one eye or both eyes. This type of blink may appear more forceful than a normal blink. It can also be accompanied by other facial, head or neck movements. What are the causes of excessive blinking? Problems with the eyelid or anterior segment (the front surface of the eye), habitual twitching, refractive error (requiring glasses), intermittent exotropia or exotropia, and stress. It is extremely rare for an underlying neurological abnormality to cause excessive blinking. What should we do if my child is blinking excessively? A pediatric ophthalmologist can diagnose the cause of the child’s blinking. A thorough examination is performed. If the child has entropion of the eyelashes, corneal abrasions (scratches on the front surface of the eye), conjunctivitis (red eyes), foreign bodies in the eye, or dry eyes, a definitive diagnosis can be made with the application of a slit lamp examination. The slit lamp is a special microscope that is used to magnify the eye. It is also easier to confirm the diagnosis if your child needs a lens. If there is strabismus (inward or outward slanting of the eye) the diagnosis can be confirmed when the child’s eye movements are examined by an ophthalmologist. How is excessive blinking treated? If corneal abrasions or conjunctivitis are diagnosed, eye drops or ointment should be given. If excessive blinking is caused by blurred vision, glasses should be prescribed. What is habitual twitching? Habitual tics are small, spontaneous limb movements. It can be caused by mental stress, fatigue or irritability. It usually affects both eyes at the same time. It occurs twice as often in boys as in girls and first appears on average at the age of 5 years. It is a benign state that resolves spontaneously without treatment, usually within a few weeks to a few years, and can frequently recur intermittently. There is no neurological etiology and cranial scans and further evaluation are not necessary.