* To protect their eyes: Blinking helps to spread tears across the surface of the eye, which lubricates the eye and washes away dust, debris, and other irritants.
* To keep their eyes moist: The tears also help to keep the eyes moist, which is essential for proper vision.
* To regulate light: Blinking can help to control the amount of light that enters the eye, which is important for protecting the eye from damage from excessive light.
* As a reflex: Blinking is also a reflex action, which is triggered by things like sudden movements or approaching objects. This reflex helps to protect the eye from potential injury.
While guinea pigs don't have eyelids that close fully like humans, they have a membrane called the nictitating membrane that slides across the eye to clean and moisten it. This membrane is more prominent than in humans, and you can see it when your guinea pig blinks.
So, just like us, blinking is a crucial part of keeping a guinea pig's eyes healthy and functioning properly!