It is hard to imagine that anyone could keep track of a process as fast as blinking. However, with the advancement of technology, it is easy to come up with facts and figures on body function that are so simple yet vital.
That being said, there is no question about the blinking of an eye that cannot be answered. For instance, we can now tell you how many times the average person blinks in a year or the length of a single eye blink.
This article shall focus on the speed of an eye blink so that you no longer remain in the dark regarding the topic.
How Fast Do We Blink?
The average for a healthy person lasts for a tenth of a second, which is 100 milliseconds. At times, this figure may go to as high as 400 milliseconds. How fast is this? It is very fast, and we shall give you an example to clarify how fast this is.
One tick of a cock lasts for a second, and you can blink three times within a single tick of a clock. An important thing to note is that this rate is not constant, and it varies between different individuals.
According to reputable eye wellness publishers, some factors that affect the rate of blinking in human beings include age, medical prescriptions, body infections, and fatigue.
How Many Times Do We Blink in A Day?
Even though statistics say that, on average, a normal human being blinks about 15 to 20 times a day, we must factor in the duration that people spend sleeping. This is because we do not blink when asleep.
The average sleep time for an American is 6.8 hours. When you factor this figure into the calculation, you end up with an average blinking period of 15,500 to 20,700 times a day. This turns to 5.6 million to 7.5 million times a year.
Comparing Blinking in Adults and Infants
There is a difference in the rate of blinking between adults and infants. Whereas adults blink about 15 to 20 minutes a minute, an infant has an average blink rate of 1 to 2 times per minute. Although there is nothing conclusive to explain this difference, it could be because an adult and an infant’s eyes need different lubrication levels.
The infant probably needs less eye lubrication due to a smaller eyelid opening.
Why Do I Blink so Fast?
There are several reasons why your blinking could be faster than normal. It could be due to eye irritation, infections, allergies, fatigue or anxiety. These are some of the reasons that could lead you to blink faster than the average human being.
Wrapping It Up
As you can see, the average blink of a healthy human being is quite fast, and we are indeed lucky to be blessed with technology that could capture all this information. Note that the rate is not constant, and various factors cause it to vary from one individual to the next.
And if you feel like your rate is slower or faster than usual, ensure you contact your doctor to ensure that nothing serious is causing the abnormality.