• Question: why do I blink like I have tourettes when I look at the sun!

    Asked by jordandainty to Damien, Rachael, Simon, Suzi, Tim on 20 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      Hi @jordandainty
      You shouldn’t look directly at the sun! It’s so bright that it can permanently damage your retinas in your eye.

      The reason you blink is that your brain sends signals to your eyelids to protect your eyes from the intense light from the sun.

      Hope this answers your question.

    • Photo: Damien Hall

      Damien Hall answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      Hi @jordandainty!

      I think it’s because you are over-stimulating your eye when you look at the Sun (which you shouldn’t do!). It feels that it is going to be harmed if it keeps looking at such bright light, so it tries to shut – but, if you don’t want it to shut, you open it. Then it feels over-stimulated again and shuts again, but you open it again – and so on. So it’s not that the Sun makes you blink just because it’s the Sun – because you could face the Sun with your eyes shut and not blink – but, if you try to keep your eyes open when you face the Sun, then you will blink.

      Does that answer your question?

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