We blink thousands of times every day, usually without thinking about it. But how you blink can have a surprisingly important effect on dry eye.

A normal, complete blink occurs when the upper and lower eyelids briefly meet. This simple action helps spread a fresh, even layer of tears across the surface of the eye and helps the oil-producing meibomian glands in the eyelids release their natural oils.

An incomplete blink occurs when the eyelids do not fully close. Even a small gap can leave part of the eye exposed and prevent the tear film from being properly refreshed.

If this happens repeatedly, the tears can become unstable and evaporate too quickly, contributing to evaporative dry eye.

Research has shown that incomplete blinking is associated with poorer tear-film stability, poorer meibomian gland function and an increased likelihood of dry eye disease.

Screens change the way we blink

• Incomplete blinking is particularly common when we concentrate on computers, smartphones and tablets.

  During visually demanding tasks, we may blink differently, including performing more incomplete blinks. This means the surface of the eye can remain exposed for longer and the tear film has more opportunity to evaporate.

  This is one reason why people often notice their eyes becoming increasingly:

  • dry
  • tired
  • gritty
  • sore
  • red
  • watery
  • blurred

  as the day progresses or after prolonged periods of screen use.

How do we detect incomplete blinking?

Most people have no idea that they blink incompletely.  That’s why we use high frame-rate video recording and play it back in slo-mo to show you your eye’s incomplete blink.

At Dry Eye Doctor, blinking is assessed as part of a detailed examination of the tear film, eyelids and meibomian glands.

Depending on your individual circumstances, we may assess:

• how frequently you blink
• whether your blinks are complete
• how quickly your tear film breaks up
• the quality and quantity of oil within your tear film
• the health and function of your meibomian glands
• areas of dryness or damage on the surface of the eye
• whether other eyelid or ocular-surface problems are contributing to your symptoms

Identifying abnormal blinking can be an important part of understanding why your eyes are dry rather than simply treating the symptoms.

Blink training

One of the simplest treatments is learning to blink more effectively.

A blink exercise involves gently but completely closing the eyelids so that the upper and lower lids meet, before opening them again normally.

The important point is that the blink should be complete but relaxed. There is usually no need to forcefully squeeze the eyelids together.

Regular blink exercises can help some patients retrain their blinking pattern, particularly during prolonged screen use.

Treating meibomian gland dysfunction

If incomplete blinking has contributed to blocked or poorly functioning meibomian glands, blink training alone may not be enough.

Treatment may also need to address the glands themselves and improve the quality and flow of their oils.

Depending on the findings from your dry-eye assessment, this may include specialist treatments designed to manage meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye.

Changing screen habits

If screen use is contributing to the problem, we may recommend changes such as:

• taking regular breaks from sustained screen work
• consciously performing several complete blinks during those breaks
• adjusting your screen position
• avoiding prolonged periods of uninterrupted close work