The child often blinks his eyes: causes and treatment Komarovsky

Blinking is a completely natural reflex movement inherent in everyone. Thanks to it, dust is removed from the cornea and moisturized, and fatigue is relieved. However, sometimes parents are frightened when the child blinks his eyes frequently, squeezing his eyelids tightly.

If this happens repeatedly, this may indicate the presence of serious problems, the solution of which can only be entrusted to an ophthalmologist or neurologist. What reasons can lead to such an unpleasant consequence?

Possible reasons

On their own, parents are unlikely to be able to determine why their child often blinks his eyes: the pathologies that lead to such consequences are quite serious and require examination, diagnosis and appropriate treatment from a specialist.

If a child blinks his eyes frequently when watching TV, most likely the reason is that the cornea is dry;
concussion, any other traumatic brain injury;
nervous tic - an involuntary twitching of the facial muscles, independent of the baby, which signals a nervous overload of the small organism;
decreased visual acuity is characterized by the fact that the child often blinks his eyes and squints;
microtrauma of the eye;
heredity;
stressful period: getting used to kindergarten, school, new place of residence, problems in the family, conflicts with others, fears, excessive strictness on the part of parents, etc.;
if the child begins to blink his eyes frequently, perhaps a foreign body has entered one of them;
deviations in the functioning of the visual organs;
long-term use of powerful medications;
past illnesses.

An ophthalmologist and a neurologist will help identify the causes of this phenomenon. After clarifying the diagnosis, they will tell parents in detail what to do if the child blinks his eyes frequently: after a course of treatment for the underlying disease, this defect will also disappear. Self-medication is excluded here.

Treatment methods

Many parents, if their child begins to blink his eyes frequently, believe that it’s all about computers and TV, and rush to protect the baby from them. But this is just the tip of the iceberg of all the reasons for this phenomenon. And such measures, alas, are not enough to save the baby from this trouble. Only a doctor, after a thorough examination, can prescribe competent treatment and tell you in detail what to do and how to help your child in such a situation.

Why does a child blink his eyes often?

Increased blinking can occur due to various reasons. Therefore, parents should seek medical help if this problem occurs in their child. As a rule, determining the exact cause of rapid blinking requires examination by an ophthalmologist and neurologist. In most cases, in school-age children, frequent blinking occurs due to ordinary eye fatigue (schoolchildren, as a rule, sit for a long time at the computer or textbooks).

However, if frequent blinking continues even after a long rest and bringing the child’s routine back to normal, you need to look for other reasons that caused this problem. These include drying out the cornea or worsening vision. However, in such a situation, an additional symptom will appear - the child will squint.

Also, rapid blinking can be provoked by microtrauma of the eye, the presence of a foreign object in it, or certain deviations from the norm in the functioning of the visual organs. It is important to note that even if a foreign object hits only one eye, the child will blink frequently with his healthy eye too. As soon as the foreign object is removed, blinking will immediately return to normal.

Most often, rapid blinking is a consequence of a nervous tic. This term refers to the involuntary contraction of mechanical facial muscles. Parents should not ignore even minor tics that quickly go away on their own, as they are a sign of problems with the nervous system.

Frequent blinking can be triggered by severe fear. Very often this problem occurs in children who are under constant stress and often experience negative emotional shocks. The risk group includes children who are going to kindergarten or school for the first time.

The change in familiar surroundings and the process of adaptation to a new team goes differently for each child. Favorable conditions for the occurrence of a nervous tic in a child can be created by the following circumstances:

Strict teacher/educator;
The problem is communicating with peers;
Harsh upbringing, etc.

It is important to note that most parents neglect such problems, considering them insignificant and hoping that everything will work out on its own and the child will simply get used to it.

However, for a child these nuances are very important. In children, a nervous tic is manifested by the following symptoms:

Fatigue;
Increased anxiety;
Depressed state;
Decreased appetite;
Sleep disturbance;
Nightmares;
Irritability.

Another common cause of rapid blinking in a child is a hereditary predisposition. Note that it can be transmitted not only from the child’s parents, but also from other relatives.

Also, increased blinking may occur after a traumatic brain injury (for example, a concussion), certain diseases, or while taking certain medications.

Why does a child blink often? Delivery of contact lenses and glasses in Moscow and Russia

Blinking is a natural reflex movement that is necessary to moisturize the cornea and mucous membrane of the eyes, as well as to remove foreign particles such as dust and debris. Sometimes parents are frightened by the fact that their child blinks his eyes frequently. The causes of this problem are related to disturbances in the visual or nervous system.

Why does a child blink his eyes often: common reasons

Some parents are faced with the fact that the child begins to blink quickly, squeezing his eyelids. Often he experiences discomfort associated with the need to squint. Many people mistakenly believe that the reason for this problem lies in excessive visual stress, and they try to protect the baby as much as possible from the computer, TV, tablet and other gadgets.

In fact, there are a number of factors that can cause unconscious active eyelid closure. Therefore, it is possible to reliably say why a child blinks often only after a comprehensive examination.

First, you need to see an ophthalmologist and check the condition of the little patient’s visual system. If it turns out that there are no obvious pathologies, you should contact a neurologist.

This is due to the fact that the causes of active blinking can be caused not only by dysfunction of the visual organs, but also by incorrect functioning of the nervous system.

If the pathology is observed repeatedly or lasts for a long time, this may indicate the presence of problems with the baby’s health. Therefore, you should consult a specialist in a timely manner, undergo an examination and choose the right course of treatment.

The child blinks frequently: the reasons for this phenomenon

Various eye diseases;
Fatigue of the visual organs due to excessive visual stress (spending long periods of time watching TV, computer or tablet);
Allergic reactions, including allergic conjunctivitis;
Complications caused by serious viral diseases (flu, acute respiratory infections);
Fatigue, mental overload;
Traumatic brain injury, concussion;
Side effect from taking medications;
Nervous tic. In this case, in addition to active blinking, there is an involuntary twitching of the eyelid.

As a rule, it is quite difficult to independently determine the cause of this problem. If the condition continues continuously for several days, you should visit a pediatrician who will refer you to a specialist - an ophthalmologist or a neurologist.

Remember that you can get rid of frequent blinking in a child only if the cause of its occurrence is correctly diagnosed and the appropriate course of therapy is selected. Self-medication is strictly prohibited. This can negatively affect the baby's health.

A child blinks his eyes frequently: causes associated with eye diseases

If the baby complains of itching, burning and discomfort in the eyes, as well as frequent blinking, the cause may be caused by excessive dryness of the cornea.

This is mainly due to increased visual stress: reading in transport or spending long periods of time in front of a monitor, as well as non-compliance with a sleep schedule and a sedentary lifestyle.

In this case, to get rid of the problem, you need to adjust the child’s daily routine, monitor his sleep, nutrition, visual stress, etc. In addition, drying out of the cornea can occur due to excessively dry air in the room. In this case, you need to think about how to moisturize it.

Another common factor that causes a child to blink more often than necessary is poor vision. Ophthalmologists say that the number of preschool and school-age patients with various refractive errors is currently actively increasing.

Modern children actively use gadgets from an early age, so one hundred percent vision is very rare. Frequent blinking can be caused by the fact that the child involuntarily squints, trying to improve the “picture quality”.

As a rule, this phenomenon is characteristic of progressive myopia and farsightedness.

Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes) can also provoke active closing of the eyelids. This is due to the fact that this disease is accompanied by slight swelling and swelling of the eyes, causing discomfort in the baby.

He tries in every possible way to get rid of it by blinking. In addition, the cause of frequent squinting of the eyelids can be mechanical damage to the eye or penetration of a foreign body into it.

In this case, the problem is aggravated when the child rubs the injured organ of vision with his hands.

Other inflammatory eye diseases can cause frequent blinking: iritis, iridocyclitis, choroiditis. This list includes the most common diseases, but is not exhaustive. The reasons may be related to other physiological processes occurring in the child’s body. You should also remember about the hereditary factor.

Why does a child blink his eyes often?

Dry keratitis, or “dry eye” syndrome (insufficient hydration of the cornea);
Decreased visual acuity (progressive myopia, farsightedness, astigmatism, etc.);
Inflammatory processes occurring in the membrane of the eye;
Mechanical damage or foreign body entry into the organs of vision.

A child blinks frequently: psychological reasons

The appearance of many diseases is often associated with psychosomatics. Emotional imbalance often causes a child to blink more often. The problem may be caused by prolonged psychological stress.

In this case, we are not talking about one-time stress, but about the child’s systematic anxiety for some reason, both negative and positive. This phenomenon is often observed in elementary school students before tests, exams and other stressful situations.

Neurologists note that school life often leads to similar manifestations of neurosis.

It also happens that a child begins to blink more often due to a low level of social adaptation.

Due to the lack of positive experience communicating with peers, the child experiences difficulties, which has a negative impact on his psyche. A similar situation is observed in children with low self-esteem.

Often this psychological problem is caused by an incorrect approach to education: when a child is scolded and humiliated in the presence of others.

Prolonged psychological stress can also be caused by a difficult family situation. If a child hears constant quarrels between parents and feels negativity at home, this negatively affects his psyche in general and the visual system in particular.

As a rule, childhood tics, which are associated with a psychological factor, are a temporary phenomenon. However, it should be borne in mind that, like any neurotic pathology, frequent blinking may experience seasonal relapses.

It may appear periodically throughout the year.

The child began to blink his eyes frequently: reasons

Prolonged anxiety for any reason;
Insufficient level of social adaptation;
Low self-esteem;
Difficult family situation;
Other factors that contribute to emotional imbalance.

How to recognize that a child’s frequent blinking is psychological in nature? Observe him; if, in addition to squinting, there are signs of a depressive state, for example, withdrawal, you should contact a neurologist. In most cases, changing the concept of upbringing helps an impressionable child get rid of a nervous tic.

What to do if your child starts blinking frequently?

It should be noted that if a child blinks frequently, treatment is not always required.

Drug therapy is usually used only in cases where the cause of the problem is an infectious or inflammatory eye disease.

Also, in some situations, the use of sedatives is indicated if too frequent closure of the eyelids is psychological in nature and persistent.

If necessary, treatment is based on etiotropic therapy, in which the fight is carried out not with the symptoms of the disease, but directly with the factors that provoked it.

Initially, a thorough examination of the patient is carried out and the cause of the disease is determined. Next, the doctor prescribes a course of treatment.

In some cases, it is enough to remove the foreign body from the mucous membrane of the eye.

If the problem is related to psychosomatics, it is necessary to improve the emotional state of the little patient.

To do this, you need to adjust the child’s daily routine and review his diet for the presence of necessary microelements and vitamins. It is advisable that the baby sleeps at least 8-10 hours a day. You should also make sure that he spends more time outdoors playing outdoor games. If you have the opportunity and time, you can enroll your child in the pool.

Experts say that swimming not only improves health, but also has a positive effect on the psychological state. Try to spend as much time as possible with your baby.

General recommendations:

Visit your pediatrician. He will refer you for further examination - to an ophthalmologist and neurologist;
If necessary, undergo a course of drug treatment (if required);
Don't overload your baby. Try to establish friendly relations with him (ask unobtrusively about his relationships with friends, teachers, etc.);
Don't be too strict with your child. Don't focus his attention on the problem. The more often he hears your dissatisfaction regarding frequent blinking, the more he will worry about this, which will negatively affect his psyche.

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Source: https://www.ochkov.net/informaciya/stati/pochemu-rebenok-chasto-morgaet.htm

The child blinks his eyes frequently when watching TV

In the event that rapid blinking occurs in a child who spends a lot of time watching cartoons, the first measure that parents need to take is to completely wean the child from the TV, monitor, etc. When refusing them, the child should take special eye drops type "artificial tear".

If a foreign body gets into the eye or there is a mechanical injury, treatment should begin by washing the damaged eye with a solution of chamomile or furatsilin. You need to make a lotion out of them, and then visit the emergency room as soon as possible.

If blinking is of a neurotic nature, the treatment is somewhat different. It includes two main components:

The doctor prescribes a course of treatment with sedatives;
Parents need to create a favorable environment at home, devoid of conflicts and nervous tension.

Normalizing the baby’s lifestyle will also help cope with this disease. This refers to its ordering, when not only the child, but the whole family adheres to a certain regime.

The child blinks his eyes frequently when he is excited

Today, there is a sad trend according to which a nervous tic is the most complex and common cause of rapid blinking in children of middle school age. It is believed that diseases of the nervous system occur only in adults.

Alas, this opinion is erroneous. In children, these problems are no less common. But diagnosing and treating them is much more difficult. Treatment of diseases of the nervous system in children requires much more time and careful monitoring. This is due to age-related lability and immaturity of the child’s nervous system.

The exact cause of this disease can only be diagnosed with the help of a qualified pediatrician. If the ophthalmologist does not detect a disease of the eyeballs and eyelids, the child should be sent for examination by a neurologist and child psychologist.

There are often cases in which it is basically impossible to diagnose the presence of psychological trauma in a child at first, since most children are prone to sensitive reactions to events that adults ignore. Also, a nervous tic can be a consequence of a traumatic brain injury.

A child's rapid blinking may be his reaction to fear, excitement, or worries about various reasons. Of course, not all children are ready to share their worries and problems with anyone. Including with parents. It happens that the parents themselves are to blame for this, as they do not want to delve into the subtleties of the emotional experiences of their children. One way or another, the result is nervous disorders and tic twitching of the eye.

As a rule, psychological problems in children are accompanied by the following unpleasant symptoms:

Sleep disturbance;
Nightmares;
Nervousness;
Irritability;
Moodiness;
Fatigue;
Aggression.

This condition in a school-age child may occur due to:

Getting used to a new team, teacher;
Increased control of grades by parents or, conversely, lack of their attention;
Difficult emotional situation in his family;
Divorce of parents or the need to choose who to live with (mom or dad).

A child who blinks his eyes noticeably more often than necessary should not be treated as sick. However, you should not ignore the problem, hoping that it will go away on its own. It is not always possible to identify the cause of the problem on your own. Therefore, it is better not to waste time on this, but to immediately contact a qualified specialist.

It is very important not to reprimand or scold your child for blinking often. Children are not able to independently control blinking. And a child will probably react painfully to aggression from a loved one and this will negatively affect his condition.

Remember that the best prevention of such a problem includes the following basic things:

Loving, calm environment;
Trusting relationship between parents and child;
Adequate rest and sleep;
Balanced and proper nutrition;
Regular walks in the fresh air;
A certain daily routine.

All this will help ensure the normal physical and mental health of the child.

Other causes of blinking

Children blink not only for different reasons, but also for different manifestations. Manifestations can be localized, isolated, or combined with twitching of the limbs, shoulders, cheeks, and eyebrows. It is common in children to blink only one eye. Blinking is considered temporary and passing if it does not bother the baby and does not last more than one year.

When a foreign body gets into the eye, the baby begins to blink frequently in order to get rid of it. He will blink intensely with both eyes, even if a speck gets into one eye. The movement of the eyelids pushes the speck to the corner of the eye towards the nose, from where it will come out along with the tears.

Visible specks can get into the eye - a small fly, a speck of dust, and invisible ones - a thin pile, a speck of dust.

You need to remember why the frequent blinking began, what your child was doing before: walking, tumbling on the carpet.
If the speck is small, then the eye will clear itself of this and blinking will soon stop.
But if the baby develops tearing, redness, pain, or vision may deteriorate, then you should consult an ophthalmologist.

A specialist will help remove the particle stuck to the membrane of the eye. He will tell you what drops to use in order to soothe the mucous membrane.

Frequent blinking in children and adults can cause emotional, mental and physical fatigue. The nervous system cannot cope and it takes time to recover. At school now children are under great stress:

they have to study in basic lessons and attend additional classes and sports sections or clubs.
At home, a lot of time is spent on gadgets and watching TV. In this regard, the eyes get tired and overstrained.
This is influenced by seasonal depression and emotional turmoil.

If you notice frequent blinking in your baby, then try giving him 2-3 days off, protecting him from classes and watching TV shows. Let him relax, rest, get some sleep, but be sure to walk with him in the fresh air and give him as many pleasant experiences as possible.

Stress on the eyes first leads to frequent blinking, and then vision deterioration may develop. At the same time, he begins to squint hard and close them. If you notice such symptoms, then you need to urgently contact an ophthalmologist.

Dry eye syndrome

If there is insufficient amount of vitamin in the body, dry eye syndrome may develop. And this is also affected by dry indoor air, fatigue, lack of sleep and eye strain. They begin to itch, there is pain, pain, and a feeling as if sand had gotten into it. In such cases, it is necessary to humidify the air in the room and limit the child from watching television and the computer. The doctor will recommend which vitamins should be taken: A, B2, C.

With the initial development of conjunctivitis, frequent blinking begins. At this stage, the membrane of the eye does not immediately become inflamed. Suspicions arise when the eyes begin to itch, turn red and swell. The child begins to complain of pain in the eye. To confirm the diagnosis, such symptoms should consult a doctor. He will prescribe effective treatment.

We suggest you read: Is it possible to wash your eyes with a solution of potassium permanganate?

The child often blinks his eyes and squints

Most often, sudden squinting of the eyes and their moving upward and to the side is observed in children aged 4 to 10 years. In most cases, parents take the following measures:

They ignore them, regarding these movements performed by their child as a way to fool around;
They strictly control the child’s behavior and make comments to him. They regard these movements as some kind of bad habit that needs to be weaned.

Both lines of parental behavior are categorically wrong. Both indifference and excessive control will not solve the problem, but will only make it worse. Constant comments will lead to the child trying to suppress the reflex movement. He won’t succeed and, therefore, he will be even more nervous.

The fight against the reflex will result in the child developing any involuntary eye movements into chronic ones, that is, completely uncontrollable. Frequent blinking, squinting and similar problems can occur due to a nervous tic.

Important! Parents should respond to even minor and fleeting tics in a child. A tic is an obvious signal of problems with the child’s nervous system. But this does not mean at all that if a child develops a minor tic, you need to sound the alarm and put the child on the list of mentally ill people.

Tics can occur in any child. It is important to understand how to behave so as not to harm him, but rather to help him cope with this problem. Most often, tics in children appear in the first days of attending kindergarten or school. Most children perceive a change in their usual environment and adaptation to a new team as extremely exciting.

During these periods, children face a large number of emotional experiences and shocks, often leading to nervous tics. The mechanism for the development of this disease can be triggered by:

Problems communicating with classmates/classmates;
Excessive severity on the part of the teacher/educator;
Open emotional conflicts of parents in the presence of a child;
Harsh upbringing;
Parents ignoring events that worry the child.

These tics are not included in the group of physiological disorders. In most cases they pass quite quickly. If parents adhere to the correct behavior, there is an 80% chance that the tic will disappear by the age of 10, leaving no consequences. Most often, this disease manifests itself in children who have inherited it from their relatives.

Therefore, if you notice frequent blinking in a child, first of all check whether one of his relatives suffered from a similar obsessive-compulsive neurosis.

Also make sure that the child does not suffer from a lack of communication, strict punishment, increased guardianship, or a nervous environment in the family.

Tics can also be a consequence of previous illnesses, head injuries, or medications. Spending too much time in front of the TV or computer, poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle are all very likely to lead to the development of this problem. As mentioned earlier, childhood tics most often go away after some time. However, even in this case, it is better to show the child to a neurologist.

If your child has recently developed frequent blinking and squinting, the first thing to do is take him to an ophthalmologist. He or she will check your child's eyes for the following problems:

Microtrauma;
Dryness;
Presence of foreign bodies;
Deviations in the development of the visual organs.

It is important to note that even if a foreign object resides in one eye, the child will blink with both of them. If the problem is a foreign object, the tic will go away immediately after it is removed.

Sleeping with eyes open in babies

During the first month of life, a newborn does not control the eye muscles. They can run up, fall, roll up, he doesn’t even have control over his eyelids. This fact is a common reason that a month-old baby sleeps with his eyes open. His state between sleep and wakefulness is borderline; open eyelids indicate that the child will wake up soon. Extraneous noise can cause startling and anxiety during sleep.

Attention! If a child begins to roll his eyes, this may indicate a serious neurological disease, encephalopathy. Specialist consultation is required.

The warning signs are:

frequent crying for no reason;
excessive excitement for a long time;
the presence of symptoms for more than three months.

The cause may be muscular dystonia of newborns. Special exercises will improve coordination and muscle tone will be normalized. The baby will quickly learn to control his eyeballs, and they will stop rolling back.

A child opens his eyes without waking up: reasons for the phenomenon

Attentive parents, watching their newborn, may notice a slightly open or completely wide eye in the child during sleep. More often this phenomenon occurs symmetrically. There are many reasons for this symptom. The most common factors:

change of sleep phase;
emotional overexcitation;
underdevelopment of the century;
genetic factor;
lagophthalmos;
neurological problems.

This sign cannot be neglected. The child must be shown to a doctor. If no pathologies are identified, the specialist will advise appropriate exercises and optimal sleep and rest patterns.

Lagophthalmos

Failure to close the eyelids during sleep in a newborn may indicate lagophthalmos. This condition requires a mandatory examination by an ophthalmologist.

It can be caused by reasons such as:

congenital pathology of eyelid development;
disease of the central nervous system;
facial paralysis due to viral infection or injury.

It is important to know! If it occurs infrequently and there are no other warning signs, then there is no need to worry. Lagophthalmos should resolve by 18 months. When a baby sleeps with his eyes open more than twice a week, this may be a sign of serious pathology.

Vivid impressions

Emotional stress can cause infants to have open eyes during sleep. Receiving vivid impressions while awake, the imperfect nervous system is not able to relax, the baby experiences all the feelings in a dream and the eyelids can open.

If a connection is noticed between these events, you must act as follows:

normalize the baby's daily routine;
avoid violent games and strong emotions before the child falls asleep;
bathe the baby in a decoction of soothing herbs;
before going to bed, have a relaxing massage;
You cannot quarrel or have a heated discussion in the presence of a child.

Such a child should sleep in silence. Fulfilling all the requirements will help the baby calm down and he will develop normally. These manifestations will become more rare and completely disappear by one and a half years.

Hereditary factor

A newborn baby often sleeps with his eyes open if one or both parents also experienced this problem in infancy. It is highly likely that their baby will exhibit such a symptom.

If this is a reliable fact, then there is no reason to worry.

The phenomenon does not harm the child’s health, the problem goes away by 12 months. A longer manifestation may indicate the presence of emotional overload.

What to do if your child blinks his eyes frequently

After the doctor determines the exact cause of the child’s frequent blinking, he will prescribe a number of therapeutic measures. To date, the nature of nervous tics has not yet been studied, and the mechanism of their manifestation has not been determined. For this reason, the doctor can prescribe a wide range of physiotherapeutic agents and medications.

If the doctor determines that the occurrence of a tic is due to a psychological problem, he will refer the child to a psychotherapist. If eliminating the cause of the tic does not eliminate the disease, additional drug therapy is prescribed. As a rule, it includes taking herbal medicines.

Treatment for tics is comprehensive and includes:

Massage;
Acupuncture;
Phytotherapy with herbal infusions with a calming effect;
Yoga classes;
Trainings on learning to control facial muscles and suppress nervous tics;
The use of antipsychotics (only if all of the above methods did not have the desired effect).

Treatment for persistent nervous tics that do not go away on their own can be lengthy and difficult. It often happens that they appear after a certain period of time (it varies from several months to several years). In addition, the doctor will not be able to give you guarantees that the tic is completely cured and that in the future it will not develop into a chronic one.

If doctors do not find neurological or mental problems that provoked a nervous tic, the child will need to be shown to an ophthalmologist. If a child constantly rubs his eyes, discharge forms in his tear duct, and the eyeball itself turns red - these are clear signs of an eye disease.

This problem is very dangerous and requires immediate action. Determining an accurate diagnosis is not difficult for an ophthalmologist. After completing the prescribed course of treatment, the child will completely get rid of frequent blinking.

In addition to medicinal options for treating frequent blinking, there are also harmless methods from traditional medicine. Most often these are various soothing herbal infusions. The most popular and effective are the following three recipes:

A decoction with a sedative effect. Mix 3 tablespoons of chamomile with 2 tablespoons of mint and a tablespoon of valerian root. Next, you need to add 1.5 liters of boiling water to the mixture and leave for 20-25 minutes. The decoction should be taken 1 glass twice a day. You can add honey or a slice of lemon to the decoction to give it a pleasant taste;
Herbal mixture in pads. You should put dried lavender flowers in a small bag made of linen or cotton, ready-made or sewn yourself. By placing such a pillow at the head of the child's bed, you will create favorable conditions for your child not only to calm down, but also to fall asleep faster and more soundly;
A decoction of strong tea. It is used to wash the eye if a foreign object gets under the eyelid. To prepare such a decoction, you need to brew loose leaf tea and let it brew and cool. Washing should be done using a tampon soaked in the resulting decoction.

The child blinks his eyes frequently: Komarovsky

The famous Ukrainian children's doctor Evgeniy Olegovich Komarovsky says that most often rapid blinking in a child occurs due to problems of a psychological nature. He warns parents against ignoring this disease or perceiving it as a child’s pampering.

This approach is incorrect and carries the risk of not noticing a serious illness in the future. However, there is no need to pay special attention to blinking. If you start regularly and persistently asking your child why he blinks, this will not only not help, but will also create nervous tension, which will only worsen the problem.

The pediatrician recommends monitoring the child’s condition and specifically the tic for 2-3 days. If the tic does not go away on its own on the 4th day, you should take your child to see a doctor. Or rather, to the doctors. It is better to start with a consultation with a neurologist and psychotherapist. Komarovsky also claims that a comfortable atmosphere in the home and family will completely eliminate all factors that can provoke nervousness and nervous tension in the child.

Situation Description Cause The child blinks with one eye Involuntary closing of one eye, raising an eyebrow, twitching of the muscles of one half of the face Nerve endings are damaged The child blinks at loud sounds In addition to pronounced blinking, the child can shudder with the whole body Severe fear The child simply began to blink frequently There is no visible damage to the eyes, in a calm environment, other muscles are not involved Prolonged stress The child rolls his eyes and blinks The child may roll his eyes, blink frequently, nausea and vomiting, disorientation in space may be observed Traumatic brain injury The child blinks frequently, all facial muscles are involved Eyes may roll up and to the side , facial muscles cramp, foam may flow from the mouth, muscles of the neck and the whole body contract Epilepsy The child often begins to blink during the flu, acute respiratory infections, or high temperature The eyes turn red, the frequency of blinking increases There is a large load on the nervous system The child blinks often after taking nootropic drugs (Encephabol, Pantogam, Cortexin, etc.) Increases blinking frequency Increases nervous excitability.

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» The child often blinks his eyes and squints: reasons

Mothers react differently to frequent blinking of babies. Some don't pay attention. The latter decide that the child is playing around, scold him and forbid him to “make faces”.

Still others protect the poor fellow from the screen, rendering the same verdict: it’s all the fault of the TV and computer!

It would be worth taking a more responsible approach to the health of your own child. The cause of frequent blinking can be not only eye fatigue, but also more serious problems.

When and why should you contact a neurologist?

The most common reasons why children blink frequently and involuntarily are neurological problems. At the same time, no other external ophthalmological symptoms (redness, swelling, inflammation, etc.) are observed. We are talking about eye tics in children that begin on a nervous basis. They arise in response to high emotional stress, which can be overwhelming for children. At the same time, the child can twitch and blink with both eyes and with one.

Advice
Keep a secret diary and write down observations of the child’s behavior in it: in what situations blinks occur, what provokes them, how strong and uncomfortable they are for the child, does the picture change when the psychological situation changes, etc. This will help the neurologist and psychologist better understand picture of what is happening and correct it properly.

In what cases is it necessary to consult a pediatric neurologist?

Great fright. The child blinks or twitches his eyes, squints tightly at loud sounds. The tick in this case is a consequence of the fact that the baby was very frightened by something (thunder, lightning, a terrible scene in a movie, an aggressive animal). The tic may be accompanied by twitching of other parts of the body (shoulders, arms, mouth).
A state of prolonged stress. It can be caused by various reasons - constant scandals in the family or divorce of parents, the loss of a loved one, beatings of the mother in front of the child, too harsh educational measures, tense relationships with peers or teachers at school, psychological violence, when a child is constantly forced to do something hateful. . But the result is the same: the nervous system of a growing person cannot cope with constant overstrain, which causes the child to blink frequently, twitch his eyebrows, and his eyelids.
Adaptation. Not all children easily settle into a new place or in a new team, easily get along with their peers, make new acquaintances and friends, or adapt to a new regime. Obsessive eye twitching may accompany, for example, a period of adaptation to kindergarten, a new place of residence, starting school, or moving to a new kindergarten or school. A similar adaptation occurs during the transition from the primary stage of education to the secondary stage (5th grade). School psychologists clearly call this period one of the most stressful in a student’s life. After all, the usual way of life is changing (there are more lessons per day, the number of subjects and teachers is increasing - and each with its own character, there is a constant change of classrooms throughout the day, the volume of homework is increasing). When a child blinks, the nervous system sends an “SOS” signal.
Hereditary causes. If one of your relatives had a tendency to nervous tics in the form of eye blinking, there is a high probability that they will appear in the baby. Tourette's syndrome can also be considered hereditary, a genetic disease characterized by various tics, including vocal (sound) ones.
Sometimes tic-like blinking of the eyes can be a consequence of severe infectious diseases (flu, sore throat, ARVI). They can also be triggered by certain drugs (antipyretic, nootropic). If such a reaction to medications occurs, you should immediately consult your doctor and change your treatment.
If a child not only blinks frequently, but also rolls his eyes, has nausea or vomiting, or disorientation in space, there is most likely a traumatic brain injury (possibly a concussion). It is necessary to find out the cause (it could be a fall, a strong blow) and immediately consult a doctor.
If the frequent blinking of the child’s eyes is accompanied by tics and spasms of all facial muscles, rolling of the eyes up and to the side, contractions of the muscles of the neck and body, and often foaming at the mouth, these are sure signs of epilepsy. You cannot delay this - you need to call a doctor immediately!

Possible causes of frequent blinking in a child

Drying of the cornea. Fatigue, prolonged sitting in front of the TV, or too bright light can lead to excessive dryness of the eyes. By blinking frequently, the eye tries to replenish the lack of moisture.
Nervous tic. These are involuntary movements of the facial muscles that occur as a result of nervous overload. It is worth noting that a nervous tic does not depend on the child in any way. The baby will not be able to control or stop the manifestation.
Traumatic brain injuries. Frequent blinking is a reason to examine your child for a concussion and other head injuries.
Foreign body. When a speck hits the eye, it immediately tries to wash it away with tears. By blinking frequently, the baby helps the eye mechanism get rid of the foreign body. However, this does not always work out. If the body gets stuck deep in the eye socket, it is difficult to remove it. In no case should you leave it “as is”: stale debris will certainly cause inflammation and abscesses.
Injuries. Perhaps the baby hit or rubbed his eye.
Decreased visual acuity. Because of this, the baby has to constantly strain him. The eyes get tired, and this is the main reason for frequent blinking.
Pathology of development of visual organs. The possibility of ophthalmological abnormalities in children should not be excluded. Only a doctor can check their presence.

How to determine the cause of frequent blinking in a child at home?

Symptoms	Causes
The child blinks and squints frequently	Decrease in visual acuity
Frequent blinking, eyes watering	Foreign body
Frequent blinking, eyes watery and red	Conjunctivitis
Frequent blinking, eyes turn red	Injuries

Reasons for frequent eye blinking in a child – how to get rid of the annoying tic?

26.11.2018

Different diseases and conditions sometimes cause the same symptoms. Frequent blinking of the eyes in children occurs due to nervous disorders or as a symptom of eye diseases. Careful observation of the child will tell you the essence of the problem, as well as which doctor should be seen.

Causes of pathology

Having noticed frequent blinking in a child, parents often do not try to establish why it occurs, but attribute this phenomenon to a childish oddity or habit. This is the wrong approach, since this condition in children is caused by objective reasons.

If a child spends a lot of time at the computer, with gadgets, or watching TV, this leads to increased strain on the eyes and fatigue. It is manifested by frequent blinking, since the cornea becomes dry due to the thinning of the tear film that moisturizes it.

Dry air in the apartment is an aggravating factor. Air conditioners, fan heaters, and furnaces reduce humidity and speed up the drying of the tear film.

Ophthalmic causes

Frequent blinking in children occurs due to ophthalmological diseases of the auxiliary and lacrimal apparatus of the eyes:

chronic conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis;
lagophthalmos, keratoconjunctival xerosis;
dacryocystitis, dacryoadenitis, obstruction of the lacrimal canal.

Foreign object penetration is another common cause of frequent blinking in ophthalmology. Most often, solid dust, sand, soil particles, eyelashes, and small insects get into the eye.

Increased blinking is accompanied by reflex lacrimation - this is a protective mechanism that helps get rid of a foreign body. This causes itching, irritation, discomfort, and sometimes pain.

Decreased vision can cause children to blink frequently. This happens when a child tries to look at something, but does not succeed. He also squints and tilts his head. All these movements are an attempt to concentrate on the object in question.

Increased blinking accompanies decreased vision in the following pathologies:

myopia, farsightedness;
astigmatism, keratoconus;
amblyopia;
retinopathy, juvenile glaucoma.

Neurological causes

Frequent eye blinking is one of the variants of a tic, a disorder accompanied by obsessive movements. As a rule, the appearance of a nervous tic in a child, in which he blinks his eyes or grimaces, indicates mental stress.

Psychotrauma, frequent anxiety, fear, and manifestations of aggression lead to chronic overexcitation of the nervous system. Internal tension is resolved through obsessive movements. This is a release valve for accumulated nervous stress.

Predisposing factors for tics:

Irrational daily routine (little amount of sleep or its irregularity);
conflictual relationships in the family or children's group;
inadequate rest;
excessive passion for computer games or television;
noise pollution;
anxiety or phobic disorders;
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Numerous common complex tics are a symptom of genetic Tourette's disease. Frequent blinking of the eyes can occur during an attack of partial epilepsy, which lasts up to 30 minutes. These are rare reasons.

How to treat eye blinking in children?

Treatment for frequent eye blinking in children is prescribed depending on the cause and does not have universal principles. If this symptom is neurological in nature or associated with stress, then the following therapeutic measures are used:

family and individual psychotherapy, psychological counseling;
prescription of sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs (anxiolytics), rarely - neuroleptics;
use of antipsychotics (Tiaprid, Haloperidol) for a disease duration of 12 months. and more;
relaxation exercises;
creating and maintaining a favorable psychological environment;
normalization of sleep, study and rest patterns;
massage (facial area, restorative, hygienic).

If the cause of eye blinking is not related to the nervous system, then it is necessary to determine whether the eye disease is of an inflammatory nature or whether foreign bodies are present.

You may need to use anti-inflammatory, antibacterial agents in drops or eye ointments. Keratoprotectors are also often prescribed - drugs that protect the cornea from drying out.

Treatment of frequent eye blinking in a child

You can put drops in your baby’s eyes, forbid him to watch TV, or even start reading morals. Did it help? Hardly. Treatment should begin with a trip to the clinic.

Here it would be appropriate to contact two doctors: an ophthalmologist and a neurologist. Treatment can begin only after the cause has been determined.

What to do, if…

Is your cornea dry?

Your doctor will prescribe moisturizing eye drops. The time spent sitting in front of the TV and computer should be reduced.

Found a foreign body in the eye?

Extract. To avoid inflammation, it is recommended to use anti-inflammatory and disinfectants. Compresses with a decoction of chamomile and calendula will help.

Does your child have conjunctivitis?

The doctor will find out the cause of the disease and prescribe effective medications. Self-medication is not recommended.

Is your baby's vision deteriorating?

Find out why. The mistake of most mothers is to be content with the most banal explanation: “I ruined my eyes with a computer and tablet.”

This is not always true: in order for the lens to noticeably wear out at an early age, you need to try very hard.

The reason for decreased visual acuity in a young patient may be muscle spasm inside the eye, lack of vitamins, problems with the endocrine and cardiovascular systems.

A sharp drop in vision may be a sign of serious illness. If the cause turns out to be regular violations of visual hygiene, the doctor will not immediately prescribe glasses.

In the early stages, vision can be corrected. Special vitamin complexes, special eye exercises, a healthy lifestyle and wearing Fedorov glasses at home will help with this.

Is the cause of frequent blinking a nervous tic?

It is necessary to find out and eliminate the cause of the baby’s nervous overstrain. Create a calm, comfortable environment at home.

Refrain from loud showdowns - both with the child himself and with others. The baby should feel needed and loved, receive enough attention and support.

Komarovsky's advice

Authoritative Ukrainian pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky told how to deal with a nervous tic in the form of frequent blinking.

The doctor believes that:

Frequent blinking in children is in most cases a psychological problem.
The cause of a nervous tic in a child should be sought primarily in the family. “It is mothers and fathers who decide 70% of their child’s health... What is the most common complaint to a neurologist? “My child is screaming!”
One of the main guarantees of a child’s psychological well-being is proper healthy rest.
The problem of our mothers is finding shortcomings in their child. “When a mother, who grew up in a harsh capitalist society, gives birth to a child, she proves that her child is the best. Our mother, aware of this, constantly, together with grandmothers, girlfriends and acquaintances, looks for shortcomings in her child.”
Parents must give their child enough time and attention. “When our Soviet dad gets a dog, he firmly knows that he needs to walk it twice a day. But he doesn’t get a dog all the time because it will demand that he get his butt off the couch and go into the fresh air. And the child is wound up! So, what is next? He went to earn money for doctors and pharmacists. And the child is screaming!”
There is no need to focus on the child’s nervous tics. The baby knows even without you that his muscle is twitching. Moreover, he feels awkward. Don't show it's noticeable. Parents, teachers, relatives, acquaintances and everyone else should refrain from commenting on the baby's spasms. Comments from all sides will only make the situation worse.
You cannot discuss the problem with anyone in the presence of the child.
Having discovered a nervous tic in a child, many parents behave incorrectly: they either scold him for grimacing or arrange a merciless interrogation. Such treatment will aggravate the stressful situation.

Frequent eye blinking in children can be a sign of either ordinary fatigue or serious illness.

Having noticed this manifestation, do not rush to self-medicate. To determine the cause, you should contact a neurologist and ophthalmologist.

Do not be indifferent to symptoms that may seem insignificant at first glance. Show attention and care. And most importantly: when a child complains of any problems with his eyes, believe him! Perhaps this will save the baby's vision.

Other causes of blinking

If you have had a cold or viral infection, blinking may begin. Disorders of the cardiac and endocrine systems can also manifest themselves as such symptoms. Some medications have this side effect. Eye or traumatic brain injury can also cause frequent blinking. And when infected with worms, these symptoms may appear.

Nervous tic

Nervous tics begin involuntarily and are beyond the will and consciousness of the child. There are several types of them and one tick is replaced by another. Tics are motor - certain muscle groups are contracted or movements are repeated, while tics are auditory - sighs, sobs, screams and coughing. The baby may stop blinking, but immediately begins to cough or jerk his head.

Most often this occurs in children during periods of crisis: at 3-4 years old and at 11-12 years old. If only one muscle group is working during a tic, it may go away on its own with a little correction. But if different muscle groups begin to contract (limbs tremble and eyes blink, the child blinks and opens his mouth, the child blinks frequently and squints), then you should immediately contact a neurologist.

Children with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity disorder suffer most from nervous tics. But there are many reasons, and first of all, it is overvoltage of any kind. Such tics occur during periods of intense stress or nervous shock. If your child begins to blink frequently during this period, you should work with him on his self-esteem and strengthen his self-confidence.

Ukrainian pediatrician Evgeniy Olegovich Komarovsky believes that the cause of frequent blinking in children is psychological problems. And if parents think that it is playing around and grimacing, then they may face a serious illness in the future. But you shouldn’t attach great importance to frequent blinking, because constantly questioning a child why he blinks can cause more harm to his psyche.

According to Komarovsky's advice, children should be monitored for 2-3 days. If the tic does not go away on its own during this period, only then should you contact a specialist. You need to make an appointment with a neurologist or psychotherapist. And create a favorable atmosphere for the child in the house so that he can relieve mental stress and relax.

With the right daily routine, the child will have enough time for both study and rest, and the problem will bypass him.

According to medical observations, frequent involuntary blinking or, in other words, a nervous tic is a fairly common phenomenon among children from four to 11-12 years old, so parents should not panic about the exclusivity of the problem. There is also no need to suspect your child of deliberately such behavior. Nervous tics are uncontrollable, but in the vast majority of cases they can be eliminated. The main thing is to determine what caused it.

Frequent blinking of a child can be due to several reasons. Some of them belong to the ophthalmological group, others are determined by the psychological state of the little person. Doctors can help with the former, but to combat the latter you will need to make an effort yourself.

Dry eye syndrome. “Itchy eyes” is a complaint many parents hear from their children. This means that the child feels discomfort, pain and even stinging in the eyes. The cause of this syndrome can be anything - from too dry air in the apartment to watching TV for too long. The child’s eyes are simply tired and send a request for rest through the dry cornea.
Deterioration of vision. Unfortunately, nowadays it is very rare to meet a child with one hundred percent health. And it seems there are no more children left who do not have vision problems. Maybe your child has not escaped this problem either, but he hasn’t realized it yet, so he squints and squints and blinks unconsciously, trying to regain his former visual acuity.
Eye injury. We were running with the boys in the yard, something got into our eyes, but in the heat of the game I didn’t pay attention to it. In the kindergarten we walked on the playground, sat in the sandbox, I can’t remember who came up with the idea of throwing sand. You never know if a child has reasons for microtrauma of the eye, which he may not even be aware of.
Conjunctivitis. The disease is just beginning, the eye is not yet red or swollen, but discomfort is already felt - the child tries to get rid of it by blinking frequently.

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with Vision during a concussion: causes of deterioration, treatment.
There are also other possible causes of reflex actions that are not directly ophthalmological, but are related to physiology. For example, frequent contraction of the eye muscles can be a consequence of any traumatic brain injury or develop while taking medications. Another option is that the child inherited this “habit” from some of his relatives.

Be that as it may, in these and other cases there is only one way out - go to the doctor. If the doctor does not find pathologies, then this should not be a reason for reassurance. This means that the reasons for your child’s non-standard behavior are not on the surface, but in the depths of his subconscious. That is, you actually have to fight a nervous tic, which is a reaction of the nervous system to some events in the outside world.

Emotional stress. Something very important and significant is happening in a child’s life, whether positive or negative is not important. It is important that these events force the child or teenager to experience very strong emotions, so strong that the small body is not able to cope with them on its own. It is not without reason that psychologists identify a special subtype of childhood stress – “nervous tic on September 1st”, when a child is frightened by the unknown of the future. An overloaded nervous system malfunctions in the form of nervous twitching of the eyelids. Mental and physical overstrain can lead to the same result.
Communication problems. The child has poor contact with other children, gets lost in the presence of adults, does not know how to behave with educators or teachers - in general, any social interaction confuses him, which does not leave its mark on his nervous system.
Low self-esteem. Often, children hear only criticism addressed to them: you did the wrong thing, said the wrong thing, you’re standing in the wrong place, you’re going the wrong way, and so on, so on, so on. Parents, behaving in this way, of course, pursue good goals - they want to raise their child correctly, so that he does not grow up to be a spoiled, disobedient, incompetent teenager. But the result is a complexed, downtrodden creature with a nervous tic, who is confident in his own worthlessness.
Difficult psychological atmosphere in the family. Almost every day, adults argue, sort things out, divide areas of responsibility in a raised voice, and threaten each other with divorce. A child, hearing all this, may not understand everything, but he feels perfectly well that not everything is in order in his world and that he should help correct the situation, but how? There is no answer, but there is a nervous reaction in the form of a tic.

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According to experts, such childhood tics, caused by psychological discomfort, are temporary. With a competent approach from parents to solving the problem, the vast majority of children will be free of it by the age of 11-12.