If you find that you regularly get eye twitching, you are not alone. This is one of the most common problems that people get with their eyes, and it is something that you are going to find happens from time to time as long as you live. However, depending on the underlying circumstances, an eye twitch can either be something very serious, or just a momentary issue that you don’t need to worry about. There are many possible reasons why your eye twitches, including:
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Strain
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Dry eyes
- Nutritional problems
- Allergies
In this article, we will look at each of these in turn and look at various options to combat eye twitching, whilst providing an understanding of the causes in the hopes that you can take steps to prevent it in the future.
Causes of Eye Twitching
The most common causes of eye twitching are as follows;
1. Fatigue
If you have not slept well for a while, then you might find that your eye twitches. In fact, for many people this can happen after merely one night of not sleeping well. Whatever the cause of your sleep deprivation, you will want to think about what you can do to get some more sleep, and therefore hopefully do away with your eye twitching for good.
2. Stress
If you experience a great deal of stress, then you are going to experience some persistent eye twitching along with that. Everyone suffers with stress, but an abundance of it is never going to be a good thing, and it’s something that you will need to think about improving. Reducing stress and learning to relax are both going to be important in keeping your eye from twitching excessively.
3. Strain
If you strain your eyes a lot, then that too can cause a lot of eye twitching. It might be that you have been looking at a screen too much, or that you have new glasses that you are not used to yet. In any case, it is something that you should try to avoid if you want your eye to stop twitching. If you look at a screen too much, try to avoid that.
4. Caffeine
For those who drink a lot of caffeine, this might be obvious, as it is just one of the many physiological effects of drinking too much caffeine. If you think that your eye twitch might be caused by this, then you should find ways to reduce your caffeine intake. In particular, you should aim to keep it to one or two coffees a day, if possible. That is going to help your eye twitch to subside.
5. Alcohol
Similarly, drinking too much too regularly can cause the same problem. Many studies have shown that alcohol can have an effect of making your eye twitch, and it might even do it the day after too, even once you have stopped drinking for the night. So avoiding alcohol over-consumption could be an important factor in ensuring that your eye does not continue to twitch too much.
6. Dry Eyes
From time to time, it is possible to get dry eyes. When this happens, a natural bodily response is for the eyes to itch more, and that is something that you are going to want to be aware of. Dry eyes can occur as a result of the aging process, and that happens for around half of the population. Or they can be as a result of specific medication, or because of computer use. In some cases, it might be caused by something like glasses or lenses. If you have dry eyes regularly, it’s important to identify the cause and overcome it.
7. Nutritional Problems
With specific nutritional deficiencies, the eyes can become dry and itchy. In particular, it might be that your diet is lacking in magnesium, a key thing that can be found in most healthy diets. So eating healthily could help you to avoid itchy eyes in some cases, though the jury is out on this one.
8. Allergies
Finally, if you have itchy eyes it might simply be that you are allergic to something. Hayfever sufferers know this too well, as do those who are allergic to their pet’s fur. It can be hard to find the cause of your allergy, but in the meantime you can take antihistamines and see if that fixes the problem.
Dealing With Eye Twitches
Of course, you will mostly want to know how you can possibly get rid of an eye twitch. Actually, this should be pretty straightforward in many cases, but it does of course depend greatly on the cause of the twitch. You should firstly therefore look through the list above and see whether any of that seems like a likely or possible cause of the itch, and then that might lead you to an obvious solution. However, if that doesn’t work and your eye twitching persists, you should make sure that you seek out medical advice, as you might need a different solution provided by them instead.
Serious Causes
In rare cases, the cause of an eye twitch might be a result of a much more serious cause. That could be an eye condition like conjunctivitis, or something like Bell’s palsy. It might even be as a result of MS or Parkinson’s in some severe cases. Obviously this is statistically less likely, but it’s something to be aware of. If you are worried about any of this, or if your eye twitch persists despite all else, you should see an optician or doctor.
All in all, if you are concerned about your eye twitching, you should think about visiting an optician like Belsons. They will be able to help you get to the root of your problem, and to provide you with possible solutions for them in good time too. Clearly, that is going to be something that you are glad for, especially if it means the end of your eye twitching for good.
Conditions that Commonly Cause Eye Twitching
While eye twitching can be a harmless issue that may only appear spontaneously from time to time and won’t need treatment, it can also be caused by certain conditions such as Blepharospasm or neurological disorders like Parkinson’s. Some of these conditions will require medical attention, and it’s best if you pick up on the warning signs earlier rather than later. Therefore, knowing if your twitching is a sign of something more serious is vital.
Some common conditions with eye twitching as one of the symptoms include Blepharospasm, an eye movement disorder that leads to contractions of the muscles around the eyes, and Blepharitis, where the eyelids become inflamed. Corneal abrasion can also lead to eye twitching; this condition occurs when there is a scratch on the front of the eye. Another eye condition with twitching as a symptom is Uveitis, where the uvea, the middle tissue of the eye wall, becomes inflamed. Read on for more information on conditions that cause eye twitching:
Blepharospasm
Blepharospasm is a condition in which the muscles surrounding the eye spasm, causing the eyelid to droop. These frequent spasms may lead to the eyelid partially or entirely closing. There is no permanent cure for Blepharospasm, but you can treat it with Botox injections or surgery called myectomy. Certain lifestyle changes may also help ease the symptoms.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an infection of the eyelids or surrounding tissues. Sore eyelids, a gritty feeling in the eyes, and swollen and itchy eyelids are common symptoms of blepharitis; it can also cause blurred vision and watery eyes but does not generally lead to permanent vision loss. Clogged oil glands often cause blepharitis in the eyelids. This condition is usually treated with medications to end or control its symptoms. However, treating any underlying conditions that may have caused the Blepharitis might be necessary.
Corneal abracent
A corneal abrasion occurs when the eye’s outer surface – the cornea – is scraped or scratched. Symptoms include redness, pain, and blurred vision. The pain often doesn’t get better when you close your eye, and your eye becomes more sensitive to light, as it stings and burns in the light. This condition often results from keeping your eyes open for long periods, such as staring at a computer screen. You can treat corneal abrasion by gently rinsing your eye out with clean water, or if it doesn’t get better after a few days, your doctor can prescribe you eyedrops and pain medicine.
Uveitis
Uveitis is an inflammation of the eye’s uvea, the tissue that fills the inside of the eye. This can result in pain, redness, light sensitivity and blurred vision. It may also lead to dark spots in your vision and sometimes decreased vision. Uveitis may be caused by an infection, autoimmune disease, or injury. You can treat uveitis with medications. There are some less common treatments, such as a vitrectomy, where some of the vitreous is removed.
Common Neurological Conditions That Cause Eye Twitching
Twitching of the eye can be symptomatic of many neurological disorders, which can be more severe for one’s health. Eye twitching might even be an early warning sign of these conditions. The medication that treats these disorders might also lead to eye twitching.
Neurological disorders that can cause twitching in the eye include Bell’s Palsy, where the muscles in the face become temporarily weak or paralysed. Another neurological disorder is Cervical Dystonia, an involuntary contraction of the neck muscles, and Dystonia, a similar disorder affecting muscles all over the body. Eye twitching can also be symptomatic of Multiple Sclerosis, a disease of the central nervous system involving movement due to nerve damage.
Eye twitching can be caused by Oromandibular dystonia and facial dystonia, which affects the facial muscles. Finally, other common neurological conditions that cause this symptom are Parkinson’s Disease and Tourette Syndrome. Parkinson’s impairs the nervous system, causing tremors and movement impairment, and Tourette’s causes uncontrollable tics.
Bell’s palsy
Bell’s palsy, also known as idiopathic facial palsy, causes weakness or paralysis on one side of the face. This can lead to drooling, an inability to control facial muscles, and an inability to close your eye on the side of the face that has been affected. Symptoms of Bell’s palsy usually start suddenly and typically begin on one side of the face. You can treat this with some medications, physical therapy, or surgery to correct ongoing issues with the nerves.
Cervical dystonia
Cervical dystonia involves involuntary muscle contractions in the neck and head, often causing neck and head twitching. The cause of this disorder is generally unknown. There is no cure, but the effects of the condition are sometimes relieved by botulinum toxin injections. If cervical dystonia is causing problems for you, you can try relaxing your neck and shoulders or changing your position while resting.
Dystonia
Dystonia is a common neurological condition that causes muscle contractions. Dystonia can affect many body parts and can lead to difficulties carrying out normal daily activities. Medications and therapy are used to improve the symptoms of Dystonia, and surgery is also carried out in severe cases.
Multiple sclerosis
Eye twitching can occur in people with multiple sclerosis due to nerve damage. The myelin that protects nerve fibres is destroyed in the person with MS. Some patients with multiple sclerosis also have eye twitching that may not be linked to nerve damage. There may be other symptoms of this condition, such as vision disturbance, muscle spasms, and numbness in the limbs. There is no cure for MS, but you can treat it with medication to slow the progression of the effects of MS and physical activities like physical therapy.
Oromandibular dystonia and facial dystonia
Oromandibular dystonia is a neurological condition that causes involuntary muscle spasms around the lower facial muscles, such as the mouth and tongue. It can also affect the eyes, causing eye twitching. Facial dystonia is a group of neurological conditions that cause involuntary muscle contractions on one side of the face. If you have experienced eye twitching for a long time or if they are getting worse, you should make an appointment with your eye doctor or ophthalmologist to rule out these conditions.
Parkinson’s disease
Eye twitching can be a sign of Parkinson’s disease. This is a neurological disorder that affects a person’s movement and cognition. Twitching can occur with or without other symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as muscle rigidity, slow movement, and decreased facial expression. Eye twitching in Parkinson’s results from excessive nerve activity that causes involuntary muscle spasms. Certain medications can also cause eye twitching as a side effect. Alpha-synuclein is one such drug that is linked to Parkinson’s disease.
Tourette syndrome
Tourette syndrome is a rare neurological condition that causes tics. Tics are sudden, involuntary movements or vocalisations often performed multiple times. They are often accompanied by a sound such as an eye blinking, nose rubbing or throat clearing. Eye twitching can be one of the many symptoms of Tourette syndrome.
