We blink primarily to keep our eyes moist and healthy by spreading tears across the surface and removing irritants. Blinking clears away particles, lubricates the eyeballs, prevents dryness and discomfort, and supplies oxygen and protective enzymes to the cornea, which lacks blood vessels. Beyond these maintenance roles, blinking also helps the brain process visual information by modulating the light signals that reach the retina, enabling us to better perceive the big picture of what we see. It also provides brief moments of rest for the brain to refocus. Blinking happens involuntarily but can be controlled consciously and occurs about 15 to 16 times per minute on average.
