Why Do We Blink?

Imagine your eyes are like windows in a house. Every time you blink, it's like closing the window for just a second to keep out the dust and make sure everything stays clear inside. Blinking helps clean our eyes and keeps them wet so we can see clearly all day long.

Why It Happens

Blinking is a reflex, it happens automatically without us thinking about it. When your eyes get tired or dry, they send a signal to your brain, which tells you to blink.

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Examples

When you're reading a book in bright sunlight, you blink more often to keep your eyes from getting too tired.
Children often blink rapidly when they're excited or nervous, like before a big game.
After swimming in a pool with chlorine, blinking helps wash away the chemicals that can sting your eyes.

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Categories: Biology · eyes· nervous system· reflexes · Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.