A new study has shown that eye blinking helps improve vision and protects the eyes from strain. Ben Yang, a neuroscientist at the University of Rochester, and his colleagues wrote in their research paper: "We demonstrated that the blinking process increases the strength of retinal stimulation, significantly enhancing vision." Yang and his colleagues used high-resolution eye tracking to examine how blinking affects vision in 12 individuals viewing contrasting images on a display. Since both eyes blink simultaneously, only one eye was tracked for each person, with light intensity recorded.
The researchers found that blinking increased the strength of visual input signals by modifying the intensity of light falling on the retina. Yang stated: "Instead of weakening visual processing as is usually assumed, blinking enhances sensitivity." Furthermore, the researchers discovered that blinking helps in reconfiguring visual information. It is noted that blinking is a natural reflex for protecting the eyes, helping to moisturize the front of the eyeball and shield the eyes from bright light, dust, and other surrounding stimuli. On average, a person blinks 10 to 12 times per minute, with the interval between blinks of both eyes ranging from 2 to 10 seconds.
