Refractive Errors

Ask an Eye M.D. Answer Archive

Question:
I have a two-year-old, when he watches TV he can't stop blinking and he wipes his eyes constantly like there is something there. Should I be worried?

Answer:
Sometimes blinking results from staring at the TV for a long period of time, causing the eye to dry out and suffer minor damage, which results in the reflex blinking associated with some tears. He seems young to have allergies but if there are pets, he might touch and then rub his eyes leading to irritation. In any case it would seem wise to limit a two-year-olds TV time and see if that helps the symptoms. If there is a family history of eye problems, an eye examination is probably warranted.

Answered by: Michael Repka, MD 

Categories: Eye Conditions, Children's Eye Health

Have a question that hasn't been answered yet? Ask it!