You can hear yourself blink because of the movement of air and fluids around your eye. Here's a more detailed breakdown:
How Blinking Creates Sound
When you blink, several things happen that can create audible sounds:
- Air Movement: As your eyelids close and open, tiny pockets of air can get trapped between your eye and your eyelids. This movement of air can cause a subtle cracking or rustling sound.
- Fluid Dynamics: The lacrimal sac, which is the area where tears drain into your nose, can also be affected by the blinking motion. Air can enter this space when you blink or rub your eyes and create sounds.
Table: Factors Contributing to Blinking Sounds
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Air Entrapment | Air gets trapped between the eyelid and the eye. |
| Lacrimal Sac Air | Air enters the tear drainage area (lacrimal sac). |
| Force of Blinking | Harder blinks can increase the likelihood of audible sounds. |
| Eye Rubbing | Rubbing your eyes can increase air movement causing more sounds. |
More About The Source of the Sound
The sound that you hear when you blink isn't usually very loud. Often, it's a very subtle cracking or popping sound, but you can hear it because the source is so close to your ears.
According to a reference from 08-Aug-2022, "tiny bits of air can get in-between your eye and eyelids, which can cause a funny cracking sound". Additionally, air can enter the lacrimal sac (the area your tears drain into your nose through), resulting in a funny noise when you blink hard.
Practical Insights
- You might notice these sounds more when you're in a quiet environment.
- Blinking hard can increase the chance of hearing the sounds.
- Rubbing your eyes might also result in similar sounds for the same reasons.
