What causes frequent blinking in babies?

Under normal circumstances, frequent blinking in babies may be caused by eye fatigue, foreign bodies in the eye, trichiasis (inward-growing eyelashes), dry eye syndrome, conjunctivitis, or other reasons. It is recommended to seek medical evaluation and follow the doctor's advice for appropriate management. Specific causes are analyzed as follows:

1. Eye fatigue: A baby's eyes are still developing. Prolonged screen time from electronic devices may lead to visual fatigue. Blinking helps relieve eye strain, so babies may blink frequently. Parents should reduce the amount of time babies spend using electronic devices to help alleviate this condition.

2. Foreign body in the eye: When dust, small insects, or other foreign objects enter a baby's eye, they can cause discomfort and irritation, leading to frequent blinking. The foreign object should be promptly removed and treated as necessary. Follow medical advice to flush the eye with saline solution or clean water to attempt removal of the object.

3. Trichiasis: This condition occurs when eyelashes grow inward toward the eyeball. The lashes irritate the eye surface, causing discomfort and resulting in frequent blinking. Medical consultation is recommended, and treatment may involve surgical correction such as eyelid rotation procedures.

4. Dry eye syndrome: Dry eye occurs when there is insufficient tear production or excessive tear evaporation, leading to dryness on the eye surface. This causes eye discomfort and increased blinking. Follow medical advice to use medications such as sodium hyaluronate eye drops, compound sodium chloride eye drops, or Jinzhen eye drops to relieve symptoms.

5. Conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis is an inflammatory condition of the conjunctiva, commonly causing symptoms such as redness, itching, and increased eye discharge, which may lead to frequent blinking. Treatment may include antibiotic eye drops such as ofloxacin eye drops, tobramycin eye drops, or levofloxacin eye drops, as prescribed by a doctor.

Parents should pay attention to their baby’s eye hygiene and habits, avoid prolonged eye use, and minimize exposure to factors that may cause eye discomfort.