Have you been noticing an involuntary twitch or flutter in your eyelid every once and awhile? Do you get a stressed eye twitch or eye flutter when you are under a lot of pressure? What about a headache and eye twitching? The good news is that eye twitching is very common. In fact, it impacts most people at some point in their lives! Generally, eye twitching is harmless, but in some cases eye twitching may be a symptom of a deeper problem. Understanding what triggers all different kinds of eye twitches and knowing how to address them when they happen can lessen the impact they have on your vision and your daily activities. If you experience any concerning eye twitch symptoms, be sure to reach out to the OCLI Vision team as soon as possible. We’re here to help ensure your healthy vision.
What Is an Eye Twitch or Myokymia?
Officially known as myokymia, eye twitching is uncontrollable blinking or movement of the eyelid. People may experience eye twitches in one eye or both, and the twitches tend to come on suddenly, sometimes only lasting for a little bit and other times for much longer. Involuntary eye twitches that last for a while or recur often can cause distractions and negatively impact daily activities such as driving, reading, or even working.
In most cases, even for people experiencing frequent eye twitches for weeks, the twitch may resolve on its own. However, if your eye twitches do not resolve in a few weeks, you experience eye twitching for months, or they are more severe and pronounced than normal, it may indicate an underlying medical condition. At that point, it is necessary to visit an eye doctor to get a comprehensive eye exam.
What Generally Causes Eye Twitching (Myokymia)?
It can be hard to pinpoint myokymia causes because eye twitches can be due to any number of lifestyle factors, including stress, poor sleep, twitching from dehydration, excessive caffeine consumption, drinking alcohol, taking some medications, and smoking. While rare, some people may experience eye twitches due to brain and nervous system failures, which is why it’s vital to check with your doctor if you experience abnormal eye twitching, eye trembling, or eye tremors that last longer than usual or only impact one eye all the time.
Some medications may cause eye twitches, such as antipsychotics, antiseizure drugs, or calcium channel blockers, but your doctor or pharmacist should have indicated this as a possible side effect. If you think your medication may be the reason behind your eye twitches, it is best to consult your doctor about alternative medications or approaches, such as stopping medications. Without proper medical guidance, stopping medication can be dangerous and have unintended consequences!
Another factor that can lead to eye twitches is dry eye. Dry eyes occur when your eyes lack sufficient moisture, causing irritation and leading to constant blinking and eye spasms as your eye tries to encourage the production of tears. Luckily, dry eyes can often be treated with over-the-counter artificial tear drops and my making changes to certain lifestyle habits, like taking regular screen breaks, treating allergies, and keeping your eyes healthy.
What Vitamin Deficiency Causes Eye Twitching?
Every component of your body requires the right nutrition to function properly, and your eyelids are no different. Lacking essential vitamins and nutrients can lead to systems breaking down. If you are experiencing frequent eye twitches, it may be due to a lack of certain vitamins or minerals. The nutrients most important for your eye muscles include electrolytes, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and magnesium.
Ideally, you should be able to get the proper amount of vitamins and minerals through a balanced diet. However, if you notice certain deficiencies, consider eating more of certain foods containing the following vitamins.
- Electrolytes: Most people use sports drinks to get electrolytes, but they can also be found in coconut water, bananas, and leafy greens.
- Vitamin B12: This vitamin is mostly found in animal products such as meat, fish, dairy. It is also sometimes added to fortified cereals.
- Vitamin D: Most of us do not get enough sunshine to make enough Vitamin D, so eating more fish, fortified foods like milk and cereals, and egg yolks.
- Magnesium: Eat more nuts, seeds whole grains, leafy greens, and legumes to get the required amount of magnesium.
By consuming more targeted vitamins and minerals, people that have excessive or recurring eye twitches may notice that the eye twitches lessen or go away after one or two weeks. However, it will depend greatly on the type and severity of the deficiency and the quantity of the appropriate food consumed.
What Types of Eye Twitches Are There?
There are different types of eye twitches, including ocular myokymia, benign essential blepharospasm, and hemifacial spasm. The last two are much more rare and more severe than common eye twitches or ocular myokymia, requiring more invasive and complex medical care.
Ocular Myokymia
Ocular myokymia or eyelid myokymia is the eye twitch most of us experience, resulting in a slow, uncontrollable movement of the eye lid. It’s a specific form of myoclonus (uncontrolled muscle movement) that anyone can experience under the right circumstances. While it might sound fancy, it is very common (you most likely know exactly what this feels like) and is generally nothing to worry about.
How Can I Stop Eye Twitching?
When you have an eye twitch, all you can think about is when it will be over. Luckily, eye twitches are generally easy to remedy. As a first step, consider making a few lifestyle adjustments, including getting enough sleep, reducing stress, eliminating or reducing caffeine intake, and changing your diet to ensure you are getting enough of the proper vitamins and minerals to facilitate muscle function. A great way to protect yourself from many health problems, including twitching eyes is to stop smoking or vaping!
If you have dry eyes and eye twitches or allergies and eye twitching, ask your doctor or pharmacist for lubricating eye drops.
If your eye twitches become particularly annoying and prevent you from seeing clearly or doing some of the activities you love, you can ask your eye doctor about medical injections. Botox injections can temporarily block the nerves that control the eyelids, providing relief from persistent twitching. Additionally, there are other medical treatments available that may work for your situation, including muscle relaxers, using stimulants that are often used for individuals with ADHD, and sedatives.
Finally, try applying a warm compress to the eyes as an eye tic treatment to relax the muscles and provide quick relief.
Why Is My Eye Twitching?
If you cannot find relief after trying the above remedies, you have one eye spasms, or you have had a twitch in eye for a week, you may be suffering from an underlying medical condition, such as blepharospasm disease or facial muscle spasms. However, it is essential that you reach out to your eye or general doctor for an evaluation and diagnosis.
Find a Doctor for Eye Myokymia Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no fool proof way to prevent eyelid twitching from ever occurring, it is just a natural part of life. However, when eye twitches do happen, know that you can lessen their severity and prevent them from recurring frequently with a few adjustments to your lifestyle habits.
Keep in mind that eye twitching is normal and nothing to worry about in most cases. Anxiety and eye twitching, caffeine eye twitch, and allergies and eye twitching are all normal conditions that can often resolve with proper treatment at home!
If your eye twitches are disrupting your vision, impacting your facial muscles, becoming more frequent or severe, or you experience significant vision changes, be sure to schedule an appointment with the OCLI Vision team right away! We want to make sure your eyes are healthy and any underlying medical conditions are diagnosed right away before they become problematic.
Whether you have been experiencing eye twitching for weeks, need blepharospasm treatments, or simply want professional guidance on managing this common condition, schedule an appointment at the nearest OCLI Vision location today and speak to a doctor for eye twitching. We’re ready to help!
