Eye Twitching? How to Stop It

Involuntary muscle spasms can be truly annoying. Especially if this occurs in your eye area or eyelid. Annoying maybe an understatement depending upon the severity and we here at HPFY might be able to help you find the causes of eye twitching and its treatment that you can try at home to get it under control.

What is eye-twitching?

Eye twitching is an abnormal and uncontrolled spasm in the eyelid muscles. It is the feeling of irritation and involuntary contraction in one or both eyes. When it is unilateral (one eye only) it is known as a myokymia. Myokymia is basically an involuntary muscle spasm that occurs mostly in the lower eyelid. When this annoying condition is bilateral with the episodic closure of the eyelids involving both or either of the eye, this is commonly known as Blepharospasm.

Eyelid twitching is usually temporary and occurs in the conditions when you are stressed, tired, or have consumed excess caffeine. When this problem persists with increased symptoms and does not go away for days and weeks, reaching out to a medical professional is the right step.

What are the types of eye twitching?

Eyelid twitching ranges from minor twitches to severe ones. Based on the severity and frequency we categorize eye-twitches into two types-

1. Minor Eye Twitching: 

   It is the occasional eye twitch, when a person is very tired, or not sleeping properly, or has had a lot of caffeine and other reasons associated with lifestyle.

2. Severe Eye Twitching: 

   When the eye twitches more often, with increased blinking and redness or dryness, it is severe. It might affect an individual’s vision also. In this case, it is very important to consult a medical professional. Frequent eye blinking can also develop a condition called Benign Essential Blepharospasm (BEB).

 

What are the causes of eyelid twitching?

Muscle spasms can occur anywhere on our bodies, but what can cause the involuntary muscle spasming and twitching of our eyelids? The exact cause of your eye twitching can vary and the severity of the twitches can determine what course of action you should take.

Minor twitches can be caused by:

• Allergies
• Stress
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Caffeine
• Poor nutrition
• Exposure to light/sensitivity
• Irritation to eye or eyelid
• Alcohol and tobacco consumption

Severe eyelid twitching can be caused by certain brain and nervous system problems, that includes-

• Parkinson's Disease
• Brain Injury or stroke
• Side effects of a mental health medicine
• Meige Syndrome
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Bell’s palsy
• Dystonia

 

Can stress and anxiety be the reasons for eye twitching?

Stress can occur due to various reasons. Learn how stress can cause eyelid twitching-

• When you get anxious or stressed up or frightened, your body produces adrenaline which speeds up your heart rate
• Your brain starts circulating more blood to perform essential functions to protect you from the threat
• Blood circulation stimulates the muscles and nerves around the eye
• For you to detect and see the threat more clearly, your brain sends extra light to your eyes
• This procedure works well to protect from physical danger but when it is about stress, your brain will cause your pupils to dilate
• The constant dilation makes your eyes sensitive and put so much strain
• Putting a lot of strain on the eyes can cause soreness around the eyelid muscles, which results in eye twitching
• It could be mild or severe as per the level of your stress and the strength of your nervous system.

 

What are the symptoms of Eyelid Twitching?

• Uncontrollable eyelid spasms
• Eye irritation
• Eye itching
• Brightness sensitivity or light sensitivity
• Increased rate of eyelid blinking
• Increased dryness in eyes
• Redness of eyes
• Facial spasms
• Eye vision problems

 

What is the treatment of Eye Twitching?

Your eye twitch severity can determine your course of action. Symptoms of a minor eye twitch can include an uncontrollable eyelid spasm that may last up to 2-3 days. Minor twitches can be stopped or minimized with simple, everyday lifestyle changes or easy at-home exercises. For twitches that last longer or are more severe, a visit to the neuro-ophthalmologist might be a good idea. These eye twitches can last several weeks and may be associated with blepharospasm, which can be caused by a nerve impulse.

To treat a minor eye twitch, you can:

• Relax: Get proper rest to relax the eye muscles
• Reduce Caffeine: Minimize or eliminate caffeine intake
• Sleep: Be sure to get a good night’s sleep
• Reduce computer screen time: Constant use of mobile devices and computer should be avoided to give your eyes some break and relax
• Wear sunglasses: Take care of the eyes while exposing to the bright sunlight and dusty atmosphere
• Warm therapy: Warm compress over your twitching eye with an eye massage pack
• Lubricate the eye: Try over-the-counter oral or topical (eye drop) antihistamines, with a medical expert’s consultation, to slow the eyelid muscle contractions.

Other techniques you can use at home to minimize spasming and eye twitching include:

• Hard blinking, to evenly spread tears and stretch the eye and facial muscles
• The “droopy lid technique” involves closing your eyes halfway to strengthen eyelid muscles and lubricate the eye
• Another option is the eye squeezing technique which involves closing your eyes and then squeezing them real tight, then release without opening
• In regular intervals, gently massage the muscles around your eyes with your fingers
• You could also try increasing magnesium and potassium in your diet.

 

Treatment for eye twitches that are more severe should be directed by your eye doctor or ophthalmologist. These treatments can include Botox, muscle relaxers, and even surgery in some more severe cases. Most eye twitches are temporary and will clear up on their own, but these options may allow you to minimize their annoying effects on your everyday life.

 

When to Call a Doctor?

Eye twitching is not only an annoying issue but it can turn into a more serious problem of not consulting with the medical professional in these cases-

• If eye twitching lasts longer than 2-3 days, that completely closes an eyelid
• In the case of involuntary muscle spasms that involve other facial muscles
• Abnormal redness in eyes, or swelling, or discharge from an eye, or a droopy upper eyelid

FAQs

1. How allergies can cause eyelid twitching?

Eye allergies are caused by agents such as – pollen and dust particles, fumes, sanitizers, sprays, or other cleaning agents. These eye allergies release histamine which causes irritation, itchiness, and eye-twitching. Whenever you are exposed to the environment that has these allergy triggering agents your eye may start to twitch.

2. Who is more prone to Eye Twitching?

Eye twitching can happen to anyone but usually elderly and women are prone to this problem.

3. How Meige Syndrome can cause eyelid twitching?

Meige syndrome is a neurological movement disorder that causes involuntary muscle contraction of the jaw and tongue as well as the muscles around the eyes (blepharospasm).

4. Can Multiple Sclerosis (MS) creates eye problems like eye twitching?

Yes, Multiple Sclerosis disables the central nervous system and attacks the protective sheath that covers the nerve fibers. This results in communication problems between the brain and the rest of your body which includes the eyes.

5. When to worry about eye twitching?

In addition to the abnormal muscle spasm around the eyes when there are signs of constant itching and irritation with facial spasms or discharge from your eyes, you need to visit your medical expert.

6. How to prevent eyelid twitches?

Eye twitches should be prevented by adjusting routine activities and habits. Proper sleep, cold-therapy, muscle relaxation therapy, regular eye massages, proper nutrition, protection from excessively bright light, pollution, and most importantly reducing stress will keep you safe from this problem.

7. What happens when the eye twitching problem gets severe?

Your healthcare provider will examine you and prescribe you medicine for that. He may also recommend botox injection (Botulinum Toxin) into your eyelid muscles to paralyze the muscles that are contracting. In rare cases, when the problem is serious, surgery is also needed.

8. Can Parkinson’s affects the eyes?

Yes. The drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease may have side effects and develops muscle spasms such as – eye spasms and facial spasms.

9. Does Bell’s Palsy cause eye twitching?

Bell’s Palsy is facial paralysis that paralyzes the facial nerves including the nerves that are responsible for the eye blink. Regeneration of the facial nerve via surgery can also cause eye twitching.

Health is indeed wealth! Take proper care of your eyes, eat well, and protect your vision so that you will be able to continue to enjoy your life. HPFY is always here to serve you with the best quality healthcare products.

 

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