Comparative Analysis of Blink Rates During Printed and On-Screen Reading Across Varying Screen Sizes

Objective: To compare the blink rates during resting periods and while engaging in printed and on-screen reading across different digital screen dimensions.Material and Methods: This study involved thirty-two university students with normal vision, who were recorded during a 3-minute conversation to establish baseline blink rates and subsequently during four reading conditions. Participants read four passages under different conditions: printed text, smartphone, tablet, and computer screens. Video recordings were then analysed to quantify blink rates (blinks per minute, bpm) for each condition.Results: Blink rates significantly decreased in all reading scenarios compared to the baseline resting condition (p-value<0.05). Analysis via repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated significant differences in blink rates across all reading conditions (p-value<0.01). Pairwise comparisons revealed that blink rates during smartphone reading were notably lower than printed text, tablets, and computers (p-value<0.05). Conversely, blink rates exhibited no significant differences between printed text and tablet, printed text and computer, and computer and tablet readings (p-value>0.05).Conclusion: The study reveals a consistent decrease in blink rates during various reading conditions with different digital screens compared to resting states, highlighting the influence of visual engagement on ocular behaviour. Reading with a smartphone has decreased blink rates, which may affect eye health and device use. Understanding these dynamicscan guide ergonomic design to reduce visual discomfort from digital screen use, supporting healthy reading habits in the digital age.