Eye twitching, eyelid tics and spasms are very typical. Usually just the bottom lid of one eye is involved, however the top eyelid likewise can twitch. A lot of eye twitches reoccur, although they can last for weeks and even months.
I as soon as received an e-mail from a patient’s spouse, who told me her left lower eyelid had been twitching for a number of weeks, and it was driving her crazy. Could I assist?
To find an option for a twitching eye, we had to determine the underlying cause of this bothersome issue. Called myokymia in doctor lingo, these rippling muscle contractions in an eyelid can be triggered by:
- Anxiety
- Eye strain
- Dry eyes
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Fatigue
- Allergies
- Nutritional imbalances
Nearly all sudden-onset eyelid twitching is benign, implying the condition is not significant or a sign of a medical problem.
Nevertheless, this type of eye twitching likewise can be difficult to deal with. The only alternative for making the twitching stop might be to determine the cause and deal with it.
More serious types of eyelid twitching are triggered by neurological conditions such as blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm. These conditions are much less common and should be identified and dealt with by an optometrist.
Why Does My Left or Right Eye Twitch?
Anxiety: While we’re all under stress at times, our bodies respond in different ways. A twitching eye can be one sign of anxiety, particularly when it is related to vision problems such as eye strain (see below). Decreasing the cause of the stress can assist make the twitching stop.
Exhaustion: A lack of sleep, whether since of anxiety or some other reason, can trigger a twitching eyelid. Catching up on your sleep can help.
Eye strain: Vision-related stress can take place if, for example, you need glasses or a modification of glasses. Your eyes may be working too hard, triggering eyelid twitching.
Computer system eye strain from overuse of computers, tablets and smartphones is also a typical reason for vision-related tension.
If your eyelid twitching is consistent and very bothersome (like the problem experienced by my patient’s spouse), you need to have an eye exam, since you might need vision correction.
If you invest a lot of time on the computer system, you likewise must consider talking to your optometrist about unique computer eyeglasses.
Dry eyes: More than half of the older population experiences dry eyes, due to aging. Dry eyes likewise are very common for individuals who utilize computers, take specific medications (antihistamines, antidepressants, and so on), wear contact lenses. If you are worn out and under stress, you also may develop dry eye.
It’s best to see your eye doctor for a dry eye evaluation, since numerous treatments are now readily available.
Nutritional imbalances: Some credit records suggest a lack of specific nutritional substances, such as magnesium, can activate eyelid spasms. Although these files do not have scientific evidence, I can’t rule this out as a possible cause of a twitching eye.
If you think a nutritional shortage might be impacting you, nevertheless, I suggest talking this over with your family physician for expert guidance instead of randomly purchasing over-the-counter dietary products.
Allergies: People with eye allergies can have itching, swelling and watery eyes. When eyes are rubbed, this releases histamine into the cover tissues and the splits. This is significant, because some evidence suggests that histamine can cause eyelid twitching.
To offset this problem, some optometrist have actually recommended antihistamine eye drops or tablets to assist some eyelid twitches. But keep in mind that antihistamines likewise can trigger dry eyes. It’s finest to work with your optometrist to make sure you’re doing the right thing for your eyes.
Remedies for a Twitching Eye
In uncommon cases, some eye twitching simply won’t go away. A few of these kinds of twitches can be successfully treated with Botox injections that assist stop contraction. See your eye doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment if the twitching impacts half your face or your entire eye, causing the lids to clamp shut.
So, exactly what caused my patient’s partner to have eyelid twitching? The issue ended up being a combination of dry eyes and an inaccurate contact lens prescription.
Eyelid Twitching: Causes and Cure Video
Luckily, I had the ability to fix her frustrating problem by prescribing brand-new bifocal contacts made of a product developed particularly for people with dry eyes.
