Why Do We Blink and What Happens When We Don’t?

We blink to keep our eyes moist and clean. When you blink, your eyelid spreads tears across your eye like a little water slide. If you don’t blink, your eyes might feel dry or scratchy, kind of like when you forget to drink water after playing in the sand.

Blinking is almost automatic. Your brain sends a message to your eyelid without you even noticing. Sometimes, blinking helps you focus better, like when you’re reading a book or watching TV.