ABSTRACT

Background: Blinking is essential for maintaining ocular surface health. Uncorrected refractive errors, such as myopia and hyperopia, may influence blinking behavior due to the associated visual strain and accommodative demands. Purpose: To investigate the impact of refractive error (hyperopia and myopia) on blink rate in young adults in the University of Benin, Benin-city. Method: One hundred young adults (mean age 22.02 ± 1.85 years) at the University of Benin, Nigeria, participated in the study. Participants were classified into hyperopic (24%) and myopic (76%) groups based on their refractive error. Blink rate was measured while participants viewed a distant target, both with and without refractive correction. Statistical analyses, including t-tests, were performed to compare blink rates between refractive groups and assess the effect of correction. Results: Myopic individuals exhibited a significantly higher blink rate without refractive correction (16.38 ± 7.33 blinks/minute) compared to hyperopic individuals (12.08 ± 4.12 blinks/minute) (p<0.05). Refractive correction significantly reduced blink rate in both groups. In myopes, the blink rate decreased from 17.78 ± 6.59 blinks/minute without correction to 12.92 ± 6.44 blinks/minute with correction (p<0.05). Hyperopes also experienced a reduction in blink rate with correction (p<0.05). Conclusion: Uncorrected myopia is associated with a higher blink rate compared to hyperopia in young adults. Refractive correction effectively reduces blink rate in both refractive groups, highlighting the importance of addressing refractive errors to optimize ocular comfort and potentially mitigate symptoms related to visual strain.

Key Words: Refractive error, myopia, hyperopia, blink rate, refractive correction, ocular comfort.