Why Are My Eyes Twitching?

Eye twitching (blepharospasm) is caused by fatigue, stress, smoking, caffeine, medications, lack of sleep, and more.

Eye twitching, or blepharospasm, is a condition in which you cannot keep your eyes open for a long time due to spasms.

The main causes ofeye twitchinclude

• Fatigue
• Stress
• Smoking
• Caffeine
• Medication side effects (e.g., anti-depressionmedicines, medications forparkinsonism)
• Light sensitivity
• Lack ofsleep
• Foreign particles in the eye
• Corneal irritation

An eye twitch is a harmless involuntary spasm of the muscle of the eyelids, which may resolve on its own. Eye twitch (blepharospasm) causes theeyelidto blink every few seconds for a minute or two.

Twitches are generally painless; however, if there is a strong spasm, it causes the eyelid to shut completely and then reopen.

Eye twitching is generally harmless and does not indicate any serious medical conditions. Sometimes, persistent eye twitching can be a sign of more serious conditions like:

• Blepharitis(眼睑发炎)
• Dry eyes
• Light sensitivity
• Conjunctivitisorpink eye

Very rarely, eye twitching can be a sign of a nerve or brain disorder like:

• Bell’s palsy: A form of facialparalysisdue to dysfunction of facial nerves
• Dystonia: Involuntary muscle contractions
• Parkinson’s disease: A brain disorder caused due to nerve cell damage
• Tourette’s syndrome: A nervous system disorder causing the person to make sudden movements

There are three types of eye twitches, which are:

• Minor eyelid twitches:These are normal twitches commonly associated withfatigue,stress, lack ofsleep,caffeine,alcohol, or corneal orconjunctivalirritation.
• Benign essential blepharospasm:This results in nonstop blinking or eye irritation. As the condition advances, it can cause blurry vision, light sensitivity, and facial spasms. Benign essential blepharospasm is caused because offatigue, stress, and bright light or wind.
• Hemifacial spasm:This rare condition affects the muscles around the mouth and the eyelid. It generally affects only one side of the face.

Seek medical attention in the following conditions:

• Twitch that lasts for more than a week
• Eyelid closes completely
• Spasms of other facial muscles
• Redness, swelling, or discharge from the eye
• Drooping of the upper eyelid

Twitches generally stop without any major effort. If it doesn’t go away, you might try these techniques to ease eye twitching:

• Get adequate rest
• Cut down alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine
• Apply a warm compress to your eyes
• Use artificial tears to keep the eye surfaces lubricated

On the other hand, the physician might injectBotox(肉毒toxin) to treat serious conditions like benign essential blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm. Botox is prescribed for temporary relief, and you should undergo repeated treatment for complete relief.

The physicians may also prescribe medications likeKlonopin(clonazepam),Ativan(lorazepam) or Artane, Trihexane, Tritane (trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride) to treat mild cases.

There are some alternative therapies, which include:

• Biofeedback:This technique helps to control the involuntary muscle using relaxation exercises and methods
• Acupuncture:Thin needles are inserted to the pressure points to relieve twitching
• Hypnosis
• Chiropractic:This technique involves hands-on spinal manipulation to heal twitching
• Dietmanagement
• Tinted glass

As a last resort, the physician might perform a surgical myectomy, i.e., removal of muscle and nerve ending around your eyelid to relieve spasm.