Medically Verified By: Dr Janak Shah
Eye twitching is abnormal blinking of the eyelid that is a completely involuntary action (automatic action). The other name for eye twitching is eyelid spasm. Eye twitching is a sudden action and may last for minutes, hours, or longer, maybe for days. Two muscles control eye blinking, one muscle controls the eyelid closing, and another muscle controls the eyelid opening. If there is any problem with any of the two muscles, eye twitching occurs. Generally, eye twitching is normal, harmless, and a little annoying when it lasts for a short duration. However, in some people, eye twitching may signal neurological problems, including hemifacial spasm and blepharospasm. In these conditions, the eyelid closes for a long time, limiting or completely blocking the vision. These problems are less common, so you should not worry much when you feel eye twitching. For most of us, eye twitching is for a shorter period and is minor annoying. When eye twitching occurs for a longer period, it becomes very annoying and a matter of concern.
The most common types of eye twitching are hemifacial spasm, eyelid myokymia and essential blepharospasm. Below are the details on these three types of eye twitching:
Hemifacial Spasm: This is a neuromuscular disorder in which involuntary closure of the eye occurs along with muscles in the mouth, cheek and neck. Only one side of the face involves in this condition. Middle-aged or older women are affected most commonly with this condition. It starts as twitching of the eyelid muscles, gradually resulting in complete closure of the eye. The reason for this condition is irritation of the facial nerves.
Eyelid Myokymia: This condition is a mild event of occasional eye twitching. In most persons, treatment is not required.
Benign Essential Blepharospasm: It is a sustained involuntary condition that involves both eyes. In benign essential blepharospasm, the first symptom is increased eye blinking rate. This further leads to the closing of the eyelids and muscles squeezing around the eyes. In some cases, muscles of the neck or mouth are also involved. These spasms can lead to significant functional impairment, and the involuntary eyelid closure can cause an inability to see temporarily. Essential blepharospasm occurs rarely but is very bothersome. Long-term treatment may be required in case of benign essential blepharospasm. In severe cases, people are unable to keep their eyes open which may result in serious vision impairment. The suspected reason for this is the malfunctioning of the basal ganglia of the brain.
The severity and frequency of eye twitching vary from person to person. Some persons feel it for seconds or minutes, and then eye twitching goes away on its own. However, some persons may experience it for longer periods ranging from hours to a few days. The most frequent symptoms of eye twitching are eyelid spasms and twitching, in addition to this, people may also feel:
Causes
The most common reason for eye twitching is ocular myokymia. Ocular myokymia does not cause other problems. There are varieties of factors that trigger myokymia occurrence. Lack of proper sleep is one and primary of those factors. The other reasons for ocular myokymia are consuming too much caffeine, stress and tiredness. When both eyes twitch simultaneously, it is often because of blepharospasm. There is not much known about the cause of eye twitching, but scientists believe it is a problem that arises from a part of our brain called the basal ganglia. Below are the other reasons that can cause eye twitching commonly:
Below are the preventive measures for eye twitching:
When eye twitching is troublesome, you should consult a doctor to rule out other problems such as [4]:
Below are the treatment options based on the type of eye twitching:
There are rare chances of eyelid twitching complications as it is a temporary, preventable issue, and easily treatable. In rare cases, people feel the further complications from eye twitching listed below:[6]
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Is the continuous blinking of the eye bothering you? Here is everything you need to know about an eye twitch and what causes it.
Triggers of eye twitching can include stress, fatigue, eye strain, caffeine, alcohol, dry eyes, nutrition problems and allergies.
World Sight Day is observed on October 11. These are simple tips to remind you to give your eyes a break! Follow these tips and make sure your kids follow them too to ensure good eye health.
They are an important, if not the most important, part of your body. And frankly speaking, you don't pay enough attention to your eye unless something major issue crops up. Here are some problems you need to pay attention to.
Know how to cope with the sudden eyelid twitch.
This is why the over-thinking and excessive stress can cost you your vision!
Do you know why your eyes are twitching?
Does a fluttering eyelid irritate you often? Stop ignoring it and know these causes and tips to get rid of it
Is you eyelid flickering continuously? Know what triggered it and how can you fix it.
Do you spend more than 4 hours in front of the computer? Here are practical tips for common health issues related to computer use.
