Excessive blinking

Hello,
I recently started blinking excessively and dont understand why. It started out about 8 months ago i guess. It kind of started in my right eye only for a few weeks and now it is in both eyes. I feel the need to blink constantly at different times of the day. Everyday as soon as i leave work it gets real bad for about an hour. It happens at all different times of the day though. I do sit behind a computer for 8 hours a day so i thought it was strained eyes but i still haev it on the weekends. I went to have my eyes checked and the Doctor said he had no idea what it is. I just got my eyes checked for a physical last week and i have 20/20 vision. Any thoughts???? It is getting very tiring and stressful.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

It can be related to an involuntary neurologic problem such as essential blepharospasm or related to irritated or tired eyes due to dry eyes worsened especially by computer work.  Consider seeing a corneal specialist, stop any contact lenses, do no computer work for about a week, use preservative free artificial tears every 30 - 60 minutes and take oral fish oil twice a day and stop any medications that may worsen dry eyes.

MJK MD

[sheri777]

Involuntary excessive blinking can be related to stress, voluntary excessive blinking can be related to severe dry eye, secondary to sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time or being extremely tired.