What is the longest someone has gone without blinking?

September 29, 2025 •

4 min read

While the Guinness World Records organization does not officially track this feat due to the associated health risks, claims for what is the longest someone has gone without blinking range from minutes to over 12 hours based on different record-keeping organizations and unofficial competitions. Prolonged periods without blinking are extremely dangerous for your eyes.

Quick Summary

Claims for the longest time without blinking vary widely, but no official world record is maintained due to the significant health risks, including severe eye damage from dryness.

Key Points

No Official Guinness Record: Guinness World Records does not recognize a record for the longest time without blinking due to the serious health risks involved, which could include permanent eye damage.
Unofficial Record Claims Exist: Despite the lack of official recognition, several individuals have made unofficial claims, with durations ranging from over an hour to more than 12 hours, often reported by alternative record-keeping bodies.
Blinking is Essential for Eye Health: Blinking is a crucial reflex that keeps the eyes lubricated, cleans away debris, and supplies the cornea with oxygen and nutrients.
Risks Include Dry Eye and Corneal Damage: The immediate effect of not blinking is dry eye syndrome, which can quickly lead to painful corneal abrasions, swelling, and increased risk of infection.
Blinking Rate Decreases with Concentration: Activities like staring at a screen or a book significantly reduce the natural blinking rate, which is typically 10-20 times per minute, contributing to eye strain.
Attempting this is Medically Dangerous: Experts strongly advise against attempting to hold your blink for an extended period, as it is not a test of skill but a reckless act that can cause severe harm.

Blinking is a reflex action crucial for eye health, so deliberately suppressing it for long periods is challenging and medically dangerous. The action automatically cleanses, moisturizes, and protects the eyes, making a prolonged 'no-blinking' contest more a test of endurance against pain than a trivial pursuit. Most official record-keeping organizations, like Guinness World Records, refuse to monitor this category due to the risk of irreversible damage, meaning all such 'records' are unofficial or recognized by alternative groups.

The Many Claims to the Unofficial Blinking Record

Despite the medical warnings, multiple individuals have pushed the limits of this uncomfortable feat, with varying degrees of verification. These claims highlight extraordinary self-control but also serve as stark warnings of the body's limits.

Claims Recognized by Alternative Record Keepers

Varjit Singh (India Book of Records): One of the most significant claims comes from Varjit Singh of Ludhiana, India, who reportedly spent 12 hours, 4 minutes, and 30 seconds without blinking in May 2023, according to the India Book of Records. This time is exceptionally long and contrasts with most other reported durations, raising questions about methodology and independent verification.
Anand Haridas (India Book of Records): Another entry from the India Book of Records is Anand Haridas from Kerala, who achieved a time of 1 hour and 31 minutes in 2021 through the yogic meditation practice of Trataka. His feat, achieved through a focus-based technique, is more representative of human capability under controlled, mindful practice.
Anishkha A. S. (Asia Book of Records/Facebook): A 10-year-old from India was reported to have held her eyes open for 2 hours in October 2023, as recognized by the Asia Book of Records. It's worth noting the source mentioned "eyeballs moving at intervals," which could indicate different rules than a strict stare without any eye movement.

Unofficial and Televised Competitions

Paolo Ballesteros (Philippine TV): Actor Paolo Ballesteros set an unofficial record of 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 3 seconds during a segment on the TV show Eat Bulaga! in 2019. This was a publicized, though non-standardized, competition.
Julio Jaime (RecordSetter.com): For a time, RecordSetter.com, a site for user-submitted records, listed Julio Jaime of Colorado with a record of 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 11 seconds in 2016. These records, while documented, do not undergo the rigorous verification of more established entities.

The Critical Role of Blinking in Eye Health

Blinking isn't just a reflex; it's a critical, multi-faceted process for maintaining healthy eyes. Without it, the eye is vulnerable to damage and dysfunction.

Blinking's Primary Functions:

Lubrication and Moisturization: Every blink spreads a thin, protective layer of tears over the cornea, keeping it hydrated and comfortable.
Cleansing: Blinking acts like a windshield wiper, clearing away dust, pollen, and other irritants from the eye's surface.
Oxygen Supply: Since the cornea has no blood vessels, it relies on the tear film to deliver oxygen. Blinking is essential for this oxygen exchange.
Sharpening Vision: The tear film is critical for clear vision. A fresh, even layer improves the eye's optical clarity, like cleaning a camera lens.
Visual Reset: Blinking provides a micro-pause that allows the brain to process visual information and prevents sensory overload.

Health Risks of Not Blinking

Attempting to go without blinking can have serious consequences, ranging from immediate discomfort to permanent vision damage. The body's involuntary blink reflex is a vital safeguard that should not be overridden.

Potential Dangers:

Dry Eye Syndrome: The most immediate effect is a breakdown of the tear film, leading to a stinging, burning sensation and the feeling of grit in the eye.
Increased Infection Risk: The absence of cleansing action allows bacteria and debris to accumulate, raising the risk of infections like pink eye or more severe corneal infections.
Corneal Swelling and Abrasions: Lack of lubrication and oxygen can cause the cornea to swell (corneal hypoxia), leading to blurry vision and light sensitivity. If the surface becomes too dry, it can crack and develop painful abrasions.
Severe Corneal Ulcers: In extreme cases, extended dryness can lead to corneal ulcers, which are open sores on the eye's surface. These can cause scarring and lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated.

Comparison of Not-Blinking Record Claims


Claimant	Claimed Time	Recognition	Source	Notes
Varjit Singh	12 hours, 4 minutes, 30 seconds	India Book of Records	Social Media/News	Significantly higher than other claims, methodology not widely scrutinized.
Anishkha A. S.	2 hours	Asia Book of Records	Social Media/News	Reportedly allowed for eyeball movement, potentially altering the challenge.
Anand Haridas	1 hour, 31 minutes	India Book of Records	News Report	Attributed to Trataka meditation practice.
Paolo Ballesteros	1 hour, 17 minutes, 3 seconds	Unofficial	TV Show	Verified in a lighthearted, televised setting, but not a sanctioned record.
Julio Jaime	1 hour, 5 minutes, 11 seconds	Unofficial	RecordSetter.com	Record listed on a user-submitted platform, not formally vetted by major bodies.

Conclusion: Prioritizing Eye Health Over Records

While the human body's capacity for endurance is fascinating, attempting to break the record for the longest time without blinking is a dangerous and misguided endeavor. Blinking is not merely a habit but a vital physiological process for maintaining eye health and vision clarity. The claims of people holding their blinks for hours should be seen not as inspiring achievements but as cautionary tales about ignoring the body's critical signals.

Rather than fixating on breaking an unofficial and dangerous record, a better goal is to maintain good eye health. This involves conscious effort during tasks requiring high concentration, such as using the 20-20-20 rule to prevent digital eye strain. If you experience persistent dry eye symptoms or discomfort, consult a professional eye care provider.

For more information on the importance of blinking and maintaining healthy eyes, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology website.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest claimed time a person has gone without blinking is over 12 hours, by Varjit Singh, according to the India Book of Records. However, Guinness World Records does not maintain an official record for this medically dangerous activity.

Guinness World Records does not include this category because of the significant health risks associated with not blinking for prolonged periods. The potential for serious and permanent eye damage, including corneal ulcers and scarring, is too great.

If you don't blink, your eyes will quickly dry out, leading to severe discomfort, burning, and itching. The tear film will break down, leaving the cornea vulnerable to debris, infection, and oxygen deprivation, which can cause swelling and abrasion.

Significant dryness and discomfort can occur in just a minute or two. The longer you go without blinking, the greater the risk of more severe damage, such as corneal swelling, abrasions, and potential infection.

Both can be dangerous, but not blinking primarily threatens eye health, potentially causing permanent vision damage. Holding your breath risks oxygen deprivation to the brain and other vital organs, which can be life-threatening. Medically, both are ill-advised, but the nature of the risk is different.

When concentrating on tasks like reading or staring at a computer, our brain suppresses the blink reflex to maintain a stable visual image. This reduces our normal blinking rate from 10-20 blinks per minute to as few as 3-8, which contributes to eye strain and dryness.

No, blinking is an involuntary, essential bodily function. Even with conscious effort, the reflex will eventually overpower your will due to the pain and necessity of protecting the eye.