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Updated: Oct 10, 2025
Classical Short-Delay Eyeblink Conditioning in One-Year-Old Children
Published on: September 1, 2018
Video display terminal use and other risk factors for abnormal blinking in children: gender differences
Hui Zhao1,2, Shi-Nan Wu3,4, Qi Zhang5,3
1Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China. 20887787@qq.com.
Insights
Video display terminal time and ocular protection index are key risk factors for abnormal blinking in children. Lipid layer thickness acts as a protective factor against prolonged screen use.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Optometry
- Public Health
Background:
- Abnormal blinking in children is a growing concern, potentially linked to increased screen time.
- Understanding risk factors is crucial for developing preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors associated with abnormal blinking in children.
- To compare these risk factors between boys and girls.
Main Methods:
- Children were recruited from an optometry clinic and categorized into normal and abnormal blinking groups based on blink rate.
- Video display terminal time (VDTt), incomplete blinking (IB), blinking rate, and tear film (TF) stability were assessed.
- Binary logistic analysis was employed to determine risk factors.
Main Results:
- Video display terminal time (VDTt) and ocular protection index (OPI) were identified as significant risk factors for abnormal blinking in both genders.
- Specific cut-off values for VDTt and OPI were determined for boys and girls.
- Average lipid layer thickness was found to be a protective factor against prolonged VDT use.
Conclusions:
- VDTt and OPI are critical risk factors contributing to abnormal blinking in children.
- Lipid layer thickness plays a protective role, especially with extended screen exposure.
Objective:
To explore the risk factors for abnormal blinking in children and compare these between boys and girls.
Methods:
Children attending the Children's Optometry Clinic between June 2019 and June 2020 were recruited for the study. The time they had spent viewing video displays (VDTt) over the past 6 months was recorded. Incomplete blinking (IB) and blinking rate were measured and all participants were allocated to groups based on their blink rate (<20 times/min = normal blinking group, NBG; ≥20 times/min = abnormal blinking group, ABG). Tear film (TF) stability was also evaluated. The corresponding statistical methods are used to analyze the data.
Results:
A total of 87 boys and 80 girls were enrolled in the study. No significant difference in age was found between the 2 groups. There was a significant difference in TF stability between the two groups (P<0.05). According to binary logistic analysis, VDTt and ocular protection index (OPI) are important risk factors for abnormal blinking, with cut-off values of 1.75 hours and 1.014 respectively in boys; and 1.25 hours and 1.770 respectively in girls. The average of lipid layer thickness was an important protective factor for children using VDT for long periods, with a cut-off value of 58.5 nm in boys and 53.5nm in girls.
Conclusion:
Risk factors for abnormal blinking in both boys and girls include VDTt and OPI.
