Blinking

Is it easy to blink?

You probably don't even think of it. Blinking is what we do automatically without even thinking. It's like breathing, you just do it.

And yet, there is a right and a wrong way to breathe and to blink. If you have any anomaly of reflection, chances are, your blinking is wrong.

When I started practicing blinking, I was amazed to find out how "difficult" it was to do. The irony is, of course, that blinking should be effortless, it should be light, like a butterfly waving its wings. It was difficult to maintain this kind of blinking and you have to be aware of it all this time. And this quickly becomes boring...

People with nearsightedness blink hard in order to squeeze their eyes and get a little flash. Some develop a permanent squint. Worst of all, when they stare at something in order to see it better, they stop blinking altogether.

So, it's one thing to be aware of. When you catch yourself straining or staring, relax and adjust your blinking. Just practice light effortless blinking when you can. Blinking is a habit so I don't think it makes sense to put 10 minutes a day to practice "good" blinking when the rest of the day you blink hard.

So what's the connection between blinking and breathing? When people strain, they not only stop blinking but also breathing. They hold their breath and it can develop into a harmful habit. There are other aspects to breathing as well, though not necessarily related to vision. Essentially, the correct breathing habit involves diaphragmatic (abdominal) breathing. Yet lots of people develop a habit of chest or even throat breathing that can lead to all kinds of problems, both mental and physical. Get any book on yoga if you want to know more about breathing.

Breath well. And remember to blink like a butterfly.

Blinking vs. Winking

Dr. Agarwal put a big stress on correct blinking, more so than Bates. In fact he used to demonstrate to his patients the difference between the two. Myopic people tend to wink, they do it unconsciously because the act of winking flattens the eyeball or the cornea and they seem to experience a slightly better vision. But winking also strains the muscles. Develop the habit of blinking instead.

Blinking should be very light and effortless. Think of a butterfly waving its wings. This image should cause you to blink correctly at least for a few moments.