If you are a parent, you probably did worry about your child when he or she excessively blinks. The good news is that it is not something to worry about. However, it is something that you should talk to your child’s pediatrician about. It is rare but it is possible that excessive blinking is a sign of a neurological problem. It is important to see your pediatrician or ophthalmologist immediately because it can lead to vision loss.
A study in children younger than 16 has been done which showed the four common causes of excessive blinking. The causes of excessive blinking in children include:
● There is a problem in your cornea which includes dry eye, ingrown eyelash, corneal abrasion, eye allergies, or pink eye. It is also possible that there is a foreign object in the eye or under the eyelid.
● It is a habitual tic or an involuntary repetitive body movement. It occurs because of stress, anxiety, fatigue, or boredom. Tics are not something to worry about because they are harmless and your child can outgrow them.
● The refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism are uncorrected. An updated glass prescription is needed.
● You have misaligned or crossed eyes.
There are cases where there is no obvious cause why excessive blinking occurs.
How Is Excessive Blinking Diagnosed?
The cause of excessive blinking will be discovered by an ophthalmologist during an eye exam by:
● Examining the front of the eye using a special microscope called a slit lamp. It allows the doctor to see if there are problems that affect the cornea of the child.
● Checking the eye alignment. People think that it is easy to diagnose strabismus because it is obvious. There are instances where it is not obvious which is why different tests are performed to examine the movement and coordination of the eye.
● Checking the visual acuity or the sharpness of the vision. An eye chart will be used to determine if glasses are necessary.
Treatment for Excessive Blinking
The treatment for excessive blinking depends on what the main cause is. If there is an ingrown eyelash or foreign object in the eye, the removal of the irritant will be done. If it is because of allergies, conjunctivitis, or dry eye, a prescription eye drop will be given as treatment. If it is because of corneal abrasion, a patch will be used to reduce blinking and help the scratch heal.
