The first thing to understand is why people blink. Blinking is an instinctive human action and is a normal physiological activity of the eye muscles. Reflexive blinking occurs when a person feels uncomfortable or nervous, such as dry eyes or astringent eyes, and these are normal muscle activities. Blinking is a protective mechanism that protects the eyes from foreign objects and light stimulation, and also ensures that tears are evenly distributed to protect the cornea, avoid dryness of the eye surface, and prevent dust damage. Newborns blink 2 times per minute, and when they grow up, the number of blinks normally reaches 14-17 per minute. If the number of blinks greatly exceeds this frequency, it is pathological.
So what are the common causes and treatments for frequent blinking in children?
1. Dry eye syndrome
Previously, living conditions were limited, television was watched less, and very few children had dry eyes, but now a variety of cell phones, game consoles, learning machines and iPads have become poison for children. Image stimulation, TV screen flickering, the speed of change, not only lead to children’s visual center over-excitation, but also make the child transient eyes reduced, resulting in easy dry eyes, after a period of time will eventually appear to start blinking more. Close the eyes to rest will improve, more contact and interaction with the child to avoid the child and the machine for a long time to communicate. If it still does not improve, you will need to visit an ophthalmologist.
2. Allergic conjunctivitis
Some children blink seasonally and often rub their eyes at the same time, complaining of itchy eyes, foreign body sensation, and sometimes mucous-like discharge can be seen, and the effect of antibiotic eye drops is not good. Allergic conjunctivitis should be highly suspected at this time, and can be confirmed if there are also symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose or an itchy throat. Careful parents may also notice a lot of “bumps” on the inside of the child’s eyelids. This is caused by the child’s allergy to certain substances, such as pollen, dust mites, etc. Antibiotic treatment will not only not improve, but sometimes aggravate the symptoms. Anti-allergy eye drops such as sodium cromoglycate drops or pyrimethamine potassium drops should be used. In severe cases, topical hormonal eye drops should be prescribed by an ophthalmologist and closely monitored clinically. At this time, children should avoid rubbing their eyes, and ice water can be used to wash the eyes to reduce the symptoms.
3. Infectious diseases
Such as conjunctivitis and keratitis, which may be related to bacterial, viral or chlamydial infections, are mostly related to children’s poor hygiene habits and frequent rubbing of the eyes with dirty hands. In addition to increased blinking there are also manifestations such as: red, itchy eyes, increased secretions, and tearing. For frequent blinking caused by bacterial inflammation, use levofloxacin eye drops or tobramycin eye drops 3-6 times a day, and antibiotic eye ointment such as erythromycin to coat the eyes once a night. In severe cases, the number of eye drops can be increased to once every 1-2 hours. If the inflammation is caused by a virus, use ganciclovir or antabuse eye drops to spot the eyes 4 times a day. Systemic treatment is usually not necessary. Different infections may behave similarly, and parents who cannot distinguish between them are best advised to visit an ophthalmologist and ask for a prescription.
4. Congenital entropion and impingement of the eyelids.
Some children have congenital entropion of the eyelids (medically called eyelids) or obesity causing the eyelashes to fall back on the surface of the eye and irritate the cornea (the surface of the black eye) causing tearing. This condition is most common in lower eyelids and can be detected by attentive parents. In mild cases, the eyelid can be gently turned out to its normal position and fixed by traction with tape on the local skin. In severe cases, surgery is required to correct the problem.
5. Eyestrain blinking.
Including vision fatigue, such as refractive error, especially farsightedness, myopia, astigmatism is not corrected causing eye visual fatigue and caused by. This is a protective reflex, through constant blinking can adjust the curvature of the eye, so that visual clarity. In this case, you should arrange your child’s school life appropriately, tell your child that the time spent reading books and watching TV and computers should not be too long, urge your child to do eye exercises, and get an eye exam and glasses if necessary.
6. Habitual blinking.
Some children have a history of frequent blinking due to one of the above causes, and through treatment, after the cause is removed, they still retain the habit of frequent blinking. Other children like to imitate other people’s frequent blinking because they usually don’t pay attention to it, resulting in habitual frequent blinking. Parents should promptly remind their children to help them control themselves.
7. Temporary tic disorder.
This condition is generally nothing to worry about, 4%-24% of school-age children will have this condition, involuntary eye muscle twitching, related to stimulation and stress, etc., learning or mood discomfort. Sometimes the symptoms go away when the child is in a different environment, such as when you take him to the doctor. This condition usually subsides on its own, in about 1 month. If the child has had this condition for more than a year and has irritability, personality changes such as frequent strange noises, or even cursing and swearing, this condition is medically called hyperactive obscene language syndrome in children. This disease seriously affects the normal life, learning and mental health of children. You should go to the pediatrician in a timely manner and cooperate with the doctor for treatment. Do not reprimand and scold your child, but gradually induce and patiently persuade him/her.
In conclusion, there are many causes of frequent blinking in children, and treatment varies, requiring diagnosis and treatment by an experienced doctor. Parents should seek medical attention as soon as they notice their child blinking frequently to avoid aggravation of the disease. As long as they are detected and treated in a timely manner, the results are generally good.
In addition, we will introduce some foods that are good for the eyes, and you can give your child some selective food in general.
Carotene: can be converted into vitamin A in the body. Foods rich in carotene include carrots, tomatoes, various green vegetables, as well as animal liver, cream, whole milk, egg yolk, etc.
Vitamin B1: can be taken from brown rice, flour and various kinds of beans consumed daily.
Natural food sources of vitamins B2 and B6 are animal liver, milk, egg yolk, peanuts, spinach, etc.
Vitamin C: can be obtained from a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Myopia prevention needs to start with infants and children. According to research, the occurrence of myopia is related to the lack of a trace element of chromium and calcium in the body. If children eat a lot of sugar and high-carbohydrate foods, the body’s stores of the trace element chromium will be reduced, and eating too much overcooked protein-based foods will cause abnormalities in the body’s calcium metabolism, resulting in calcium deficiency. Therefore, to prevent myopia, in addition to paying attention to eye hygiene, we must also cultivate reasonable eating habits, pay attention to nutritional hygiene, eat less candy and food containing high sugar, eat less white rice and white flour, eat more brown rice and coarse flour, eat less lard, and limit the intake of high-protein animal fat and refined sugar foods to reduce the excretion of chromium in the body. At the same time, eliminate the baby’s poor eating habits of partiality, and eat more animal liver, eggs, milk, shrimp, beans, lean meat and grated roux.