Relation between blink frequency and break-up time?

A possible correlation between break-up time (BUT) and blink frequency was investigated in 32 healthy persons (17 females and 15 males) and in 29 patients suffering from primary Sjögren's syndrome (27 females and 2 males). A significant negative correlation, was found between BUT and blink frequency. In persons with high BUT, the blink frequency is low, probably just sufficient to prevent spontaneous tear breaks. In persons with low BUT, i.e. the Sjögren patients, the blink frequency is high, and tear fluid breaks are mostly prevented.