Flicker is a verb that can refer to the action carried out by luminous bodies when they shine with a slight tremor. This peculiarity can be due to several problems.
When we observe the stars from Earth, we usually see them twinkle: that is, we notice that the stars flicker or that their light goes on and off intermittently. This visual effect is due to the different layers of air through which the light of the stars passes until it reaches the earth’s surface. The eye, in this way, detects this luminosity differently depending on the layer of air (cold or hot) through which the light passes. It is important to note that twinkling is not a property of stars. The sun, for example, is a star that we never see shine. As we said above, the fact of perceiving that a luminous body blinks is linked to the way in which we perceive its light according to the layers of air that it passes through until it reaches the Earth.
On the other hand, it is often said that a light flickers when turned on and quickly goes out. A lamp with connection problems or whose lamp is about to burn out may flicker. The Christmas tree is a symbol that millions of people prepare with great care each year, decorating it with different elements, ranging from figures that hang from its branches to lights that run through its entire structure and constantly flash. This visual effect is in itself another symbol of this festival, as it also extends to the decoration of the facades of houses and streets, both in towns and in large cities, according to customs. While all Christmas lights are sold with the flashing feature, many people don’t like it, so most come with a key to replace it. In itself, seeing the lights constantly flashing is similar to feeling the decorations come to life, the Christmas fire burning in the houses and streets, the joy that reigns day and night. As for their history, Christmas lights appeared before the discovery of electricity; As early as the 18th century, upper-class German families used candles to light their Christmas trees. About two centuries later, electric lamps began to be used to give life to various elements of the public thoroughfare, regardless of the festivities, and finally this decoration technique was brought into homes on Christmas days. Hollywood has shown us many times that flashing lights are of great importance in North America: people spend large sums of money decorating their houses, to a level that is not common in other countries.
If we focus on the organism of people and animals, blinking refers to a slight agitation. The human eye can blink when the subject is very sleepy or suffering from eyestrain. The movement is linked to the pressure exerted by the blood vessels on the muscles of the region. This sensation of the eye blinking or throbbing can be very uncomfortable, although the environment of the person experiencing it does not perceive the movement to the same level as the person experiencing it. Clinically, this is called superior oblique myokymia, and it usually lasts a few days at most, although it usually disappears within minutes. One of the most common tips for treating this condition is to place a warm cloth over the eye and try to rest it.
