An eye twitch is an uncontrollable spasm of the eyelid muscles. Eyelid twitching is referred to as blepharospasm in medicine. Eyelid twitching typically lasts for a few minutes and happens every few seconds. Over the course of a few days or weeks, it could come and go. The eye may be kept closed until the twitching stops in some cases, but this is not always the case.
Eye blinking
There is typically no observable explanation for eyelid twitching. However, several environmental and behavioral factors, such as caffeine use, stress, and smoking, may exacerbate eyelid twitching. Additionally, eye irritations or infections may be accompanied by twitching of the eyelids. Eyelid twitching may occasionally be a sign, usually when other erratic movements are present.
Risk factors of eye twitching
Essential blepharospasm usually occurs more commonly in females and at a later age.
Causes
Stress: While we’re all under stress at times, our bodies react in different ways. A twitching eye can be one sign of stress, especially when it is related to vision problems such as eye strain.
Tiredness: A lack of sleep, whether because of stress or some other reason, can trigger a twitching eyelid. Catching up on your sleep can help.
Eye strain: Vision-related stress can occur if, for instance, you need glasses or a change of glasses. Even minor vision problems can make your eyes work too hard, triggering eyelid twitching. Schedule an eye exam and have your vision checked and your eyeglass prescription updated.
Computer eye strain: From overuse of computers, tablets and smartphones also is a common cause of eyelid twitching. Follow the “20-20-20 rule” when using digital devices: Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen and allow your eyes to focus on a distant object (at least 20 feet away) for 20 seconds or longer. This reduces eye muscle fatigue that may trigger eyelid twitching.
Caffeine: Too much caffeine can trigger eye twitching. Try cutting back on coffee, tea, chocolate and soft drinks (or switch to decaffeinated versions) for a week or two and see if your eye twitching disappears.
Alcohol: Try abstaining for a while, since alcohol also can cause eyelids to twitch.
Symptoms
Symptoms of eyelid twitches may include:
Excessive blinking of the eyes
Involuntary muscle movement around eyes
Dryness of eyes
Light sensitivity
Tired eyes
Complications of eye twitching
Very rarely, eyelid spasms are a symptom of a more serious brain or nerve disorder. When the eyelid twitches are a result of these more serious conditions, they are almost always accompanied by other symptoms. Brain and nerve disorders that may cause eyelid twitches include:
Bell’s palsy (facial palsy), which is a condition that causes one side of your face to droop downward
dystonia, which causes unexpected muscle spasms and the affected area’s body part to twist or contort
cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis), which causes the neck to randomly spasm and the head to twist into uncomfortable positions
multiple sclerosis (MS), which is a disease of the central nervous system that causes cognitive and movement problems, as well as fatigue
Parkinson’s disease, which can cause trembling limbs, muscle stiffness, balance problems, and difficulty speaking
Tourette’s syndrome, which is characterized by involuntary movement and verbal tics
Undiagnosed corneal scratches can also cause eyelid twitches. If you think you have an eye injury, see your optometrist or ophthalmologist immediately. Corneal scratches can cause permanent eye damage.
Diagnosis and test
These conditions are distinguished by a careful clinical examination. Rarely, hemifacial spasm is caused by a tumors pressing on the facial nerve, found with MRI testing.
Treatment and medications
Most eyelid spasms go away without treatment in a few days or weeks. If they don’t go away, you can try to eliminate or decrease potential causes. The most common causes of eyelid twitch are stress, fatigue, and caffeine. To ease eye twitching, you might want to try the following:
Drink less caffeine.
Get adequate sleep.
Keep your eye surfaces lubricated with over-the-counter artificial tears or eye drops.
Apply a warm compress to your eyes when a spasm begins.
Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections are sometimes used to treat benign essential blepharospasm. Botox may ease severe spasms for a few months. However, as the effects of the injection wear off, you may need further injections.
The following methods can be used to treat the condition's more chronic forms:
facial injections: Injections are given to the afflicted area to create localized paralysis. Most of the time, symptoms subside between injections and the eyes react right away. Every three months is the average time frame for delivering injections, though this can vary from patient to patient.
Muscles around the eyelids can be surgically removed, although this procedure is only used in extreme circumstances when other treatments have failed.
Stopping eye twitching
If you experience eyelid spasms more regularly, keep a journal and record their occurrences. Take note of how much caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco you consume, as well as your level of stress and the amount of sleep you have been obtaining in the days before and during the eyelid twitching.
Try to go to bed 30 minutes to an hour earlier to assist relieve the strain on your eyes and lessen your spasms if you notice that you experience them more frequently when you don't get enough sleep.
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