Eye Aids

How to Stop EYE TWITCHING?

How To Stop Eye Twitching

Involuntary muscle spasms can be truly annoying, especially if this occurs in your eye area or eyelid. We can help you find eye twitching causes and its treatment at home. 

What is eye-twitching? 

Eye twitching is an abnormal and uncontrolled spasm in the eyelid muscles. It is known as myokymia when it is unilateral (one eye only). Myokymia is an involuntary muscle spasm that occurs mostly in the lower eyelid. When this annoying condition involves both eyes, this is known as Blepharospasm. 

 Eyelid twitching is usually temporary and occurs when you are stressed, tired, or have consumed excess caffeine. This article teaches you about eye twitching causes, symptoms, and how to stop it. 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. 

Types of Eye Twitching 

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

• Minor Eye Twitching: The occasional eye twitch when a person is very tired, not sleeping properly, or has had a lot of caffeine and other lifestyle-related reasons. 
• Severe Eye Twitching: When the eye twitches more often, with increased blinking and redness or dryness, it is determined to be severe and may also affect vision. In this case, it is very important to consult a medical professional. Frequent eye blinking can also cause Benign Essential Blepharospasm (BEB). 

Causes of Eye Twitching

Muscle spasms can occur anywhere on the body, but what causes the involuntary muscle spasming and twitching of our eyelids? The exact reason 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 or sensitivity to light 
• Irritation to the eye or eyelid 
• Alcohol and tobacco consumption 

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

• Parkinson's Disease 
• Brain Injury 
• Stroke 
• Side effects of prescription medication 
• Meige Syndrome 
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 
• Bell's Palsy 
• Dystonia 

Stress, Anxiety, and Eye Twitching 

When you get anxious, stressed, or frightened, your body produces adrenaline, which speeds up your heart rate. When this happens, the brain sends a message to circulate more blood to perform essential functions to protect you from threats and stimulate the muscles and nerves around the eye. The brain also sends extra light to the eyes, causing the pupils to dilate. Constant dilation makes eyes sensitive and strains the eyes, which can cause soreness around the eyelid muscles and result in eye twitching. 

Symptoms of Eyelid Twitching 

• Uncontrollable eyelid spasms 
• Eye irritation 
• Itchy Eyes 
• Sensitivity to light 
• Increased rate of eyelid blinking 
• Dryness in the eyes 
• Eyes becoming red 
• Facial spasms 
• Vision problems 

How to Stop Eye Twitching 

The severity of the eye twitching can determine the course of action. Symptoms of a minor eye twitch can include an uncontrollable eyelid spasm lasting 2-3 days. Minor twitches can be stopped or minimized with simple, everyday lifestyle changes or easy at-home exercises. A visit to the neuro-ophthalmologist is a good idea for twitches that last longer or are more severe. These eye twitches can last several weeks and may be associated with Blepharospasm. 

TREATMENT 

• 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 computers should be avoided to give your eyes a break. 
• Wear sunglasses: Take care of your eyes while exposed to bright sunlight and dust. 
• Warm therapy: Place a warm compress over the twitching eye. 
• Lubricate the eye: Try eye relief aids, over-the-counter oral or topical (eye drop) antihistamines, with a medical expert's consultation to slow the eyelid muscle contractions. 

 
More ways to minimize spasming and eye twitching at home include: 

• Hard blinking to evenly spread tears and stretch the eye and facial muscles 
• The "droopy lid technique" - close your eyes halfway to strengthen eyelid muscles and lubricate the eye 
• Eye squeezing - Close your eyes and squeeze them tight, then release without opening. 
• Eye massage - gently massage the muscles around your eyes with your fingers. 
• Increase magnesium and potassium in your diet. 

Your eye doctor or ophthalmologist should direct treatment for more severe eye twitches. These treatments can include Botox injections, muscle relaxers, and surgery in more severe cases. Most eye twitches are temporary and will clear up independently, 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 annoying, it can turn into a more serious problem. If any of the following occur, consult your eye care professional: 

• Eye twitching lasting longer than 2-3 days that completely closes an eyelid. 
• Involuntary muscle spasms that involve other facial muscles 
• Abnormal redness in eyes 
• Swelling 
• Discharge from an eye 
• Droopy upper eyelid 

Eye Twitching FAQs 

1. Do muscle relaxers help eye twitching?

If the eye twitches continue to occur daily for two months or more, they can usually be alleviated using a mild muscle relaxant.

2. How allergies cause eyelid twitching?

Pollen, dust particles, fumes, sanitizers, sprays, or other cleaning agents cause eye allergies. The body responds by releasing histamine, which causes irritation, itchiness, and eye-twitching. When exposed to an environment with these allergy-triggering agents, your eye may start to twitch. 

3. Who is more prone to Eye Twitching? 

Eye twitching can happen to anyone, but women and older adults are usually prone to this problem. 

4. What is Meige syndrome? 

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

5. Can Multiple Sclerosis (MS) create eye problems like 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, including the eyes. 

6. When should I worry about eye twitching? 

In addition to the abnormal muscle spasm around the eyes, call your doctor when there is constant itching and irritation with facial spasms or discharge from your eyes. 

7. How to prevent eyelid twitches 

Eye twitches can be prevented by adjusting routine activities and habits. Proper sleep, warm therapy, muscle relaxation therapy, regular eye massages, proper nutrition, protection from excessively bright light and pollution, and, most importantly, reducing stress will keep twitches at bay. 

8. What happens when eye-twitching gets severe? 

Your healthcare provider will examine and prescribe medicine to stop eye twitching. He may also recommend botox injection (Botulinum Toxin) into your eyelid muscles to paralyze the contracting muscles. Surgery is also needed in rare cases when the problem is serious. 

9. Can Parkinson's Disease affect the eyes? 

Yes. The drugs used to treat Parkinson's may have side effects and muscle spasms such as eye and facial spasms can develop. 

10. Does Bell's Palsy cause eye twitching? 

Yes. Bell's Palsy paralyzes the facial nerves, including those responsible for eye blinking. 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. Visit HPFY for the very best eye care products.  

 

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