Identification of a Blink Frequency Threshold for Maintaining Tear Film Stability in Young Adults with Dry Eye Symptoms
November 2025
in “
Scientific Reports
”
Studysummary This study found that a blink frequency of at least 20 blinks per minute is necessary to maintain tear film stability in young participants with dry eye symptoms, with lower frequencies significantly worsening various indicators of eye dryness.
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This study involving 45 young adults with dry eye symptoms identified a critical blink frequency threshold of ≥ 20 blinks/min to maintain tear film stability. The research showed that reducing blink frequency to 10 blinks/min significantly worsened tear meniscus height, tear break-up time, bulbar redness, and eye dryness scores compared to spontaneous blinking. No significant differences were observed between spontaneous blinking and a controlled rate of 20 blinks/min. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at increasing blink frequency could help alleviate dry eye symptoms, particularly those exacerbated by digital device use.
