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Is your eye or eyelid twitching? If it does so infrequently, you probably don't give it much thought. But if it's happening several times in a day, you may wonder if there's something more going on.
It's a common problem, and in many cases you'll begin to experience an eye twitch if you're feeling stressed, tired, or overcaffeinated.
There are times, however, when an eye twitch is the first, innocuous symptom of something more serious. Conditions that cause twitching or spasm may affect your neurological system or muscles.
Eyelid twitching is quick and doesn't cause any pain or vision loss. People say it feels like their eyelid is flickering or being lightly tugged.
Eyelid twitching is also known as myokymia. It's when an involuntary spasm of the lower or upper eyelid muscles occurs.
Myokymia typically onsets without warning and it can last anything from a few hours to a few days. Stronger spasms may cause your eyelids to close involuntarily.
There are many possible causes of eyelid twitching. However, experts are not sure exactly why it seems to affect middle-aged or elderly women the most.
Frequent twitching or blinking itself can become a problem if it begins to interfere with everyday life, causing a more severe form of blepharospasm.
Common factors that cause eye twitching to occur include: drinking alcohol, smoking, bright lights, too much caffeine, lack of sleep, stress, wind, pollution, eye strain, and eye irritation.
Believe it or not, you have 42 individual muscles in your face. One opens your eyelids, while another closes them.
Myokymia is also known as benign essential blepharospasm, or BEB. Some studies suggest that between 20-30% of sufferers have a family history of this complaint.
However, sometimes twitching is indicative of something more serious. If it's persistent for more than two weeks, or there is a change to the appearance or sensation of the eye, it's time to give it more attention.
For instance, it could be a symptom of Bell’s palsy. This condition affects your facial muscles (including in your eyelids) after a viral illness like a cold or the flu.
Your eyes may also become inflamed if you're suffering from Bell's palsy. This condition can resolve on its own, but it's in your best interest to call a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.
With chronic cervical dystonia, your head and neck move into unusual positions regularly or more sporadically. It can cause headaches, head tremors, or raised shoulder.
Cervical dystonia can also cause eye twitching. This is a chronic neurological condition that affects your neck and head muscles.
Dystonia causes muscles to spasm, and can affect your eyes. It can be mild or severe, affecting one muscle or many. As of yet, there is no cure for the condition.
Dystonia symptoms are known to worsen when the sufferer feels stressed or tired. Current treatments include Botox injections, physical therapy, and medication.
It's a condition that affects the way your brain communicates with your body. MS can cause symptoms that are passing, or that can worsen with time.
Muscle twitches and eye pain are symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a chronic condition where the immune system attacks your nerves.
Changes that occur in your facial expressions can be a symptom of Parkinson’s disease. Treating Parkinson's involves medication, lifestyle changes, and potential surgery.
Parkinson's begins with minor symptoms like changes to your handwriting or voice, developing into things like tremors, muscle stiffness, and difficulty balancing.
Repeated, involuntary physical movements, or tics, and uncontrolled vocal expressions are a sign of this neurological condition.
Tourette syndrome may cause symptoms that include muscle movements you are not in control of. One of those movements is blinking.
Hemifacial spasm results in muscle twitches on the face. A change occurs in the seventh cranial nerve, causing the involuntary movements.
These spasms may begin with the eyelids twitching, before they gradually become worse and affect other facial features.
Caused by an autoimmune condition, this neuromuscular condition causes your muscles to get weaker, which results in you having less control over them.
Eyes twitching, a drooping eyelid, or seeing double are symptoms of myasthenia gravis. It can cause difficulty controlling your muscles, fatigue, breathing difficulties, and speech challenges.
However, if the twitching doesn't pass within a few days, and if you have other symptoms that are co-occurring with it, talk to your doctor. They can carry out tests and conduct an eye exam to address if it's something that needs further care.
Sources: (Healthline) (The Guardian)
See also: Dysautonomia—the invisible illness affecting millions
Your emotions, level of rest, and the environment you're in can contribute to causing a temporary eye twitch. It's not always the sign of a more serious condition.
In day-to-day life, our eyes have many stressors. Whether it's extended hours looking at screens, or exposure to harsh ultraviolet rays, our macular health can easily suffer. It's common to experience things like fatigue, dryness, or irritation. But what about when you have a random, inexplicable twitch that won't seem to go away? Apart from being as inconvenient as it is perplexing, if it's more than a passing problem, it may be worth taking a closer look at the possible cause—to rule out if it's a sign of a more serious condition.
Intrigued? Click on the following gallery to learn about when an eye twitch is something to worry about.
Is an eye twitch actually something to worry about?
Could there be something more sinister at play?
HEALTH Common problems
In day-to-day life, our eyes have many stressors. Whether it's extended hours looking at screens, or exposure to harsh ultraviolet rays, our macular health can easily suffer. It's common to experience things like fatigue, dryness, or irritation. But what about when you have a random, inexplicable twitch that won't seem to go away? Apart from being as inconvenient as it is perplexing, if it's more than a passing problem, it may be worth taking a closer look at the possible cause—to rule out if it's a sign of a more serious condition.
Intrigued? Click on the following gallery to learn about when an eye twitch is something to worry about.