Symptoms may become more noticeable over time. If episodes of eye twitching are bothersome, a doctor may be consulted to rule out other eye problems such as blepharitis inflamed eyelids or nervous system disorders such as:.
Mild cases of eye twitching are self-limiting, meaning they resolve on their own. There are some steps you can take to help the process along. If eye twitching lasts for weeks, or results in difficulty in opening the eye or difficulty seeing, contact your eye doctor to determine next steps. Your doctor may recommend medications or a treatment plan for botulinum toxin injections.
Botulinum toxin is injected under the skin around the eyes. The toxin relaxes and weakens the muscles just underneath the skin, and each set of injections prevents spasms for about three months. The most common causes of eyelid twitching are stress, fatigue, and caffeine.
To ease eye twitching, you might want to try the following: Drink less caffeine. Get adequate sleep. Keep your eye surfaces lubricated with over-the-counter artificial tears or eye drops. Apply a warm compress to your eyes when a spasm begins. How can you prevent eyelid twitches? If your eyelid spasms are happening more frequently, keep a journal and note when they occur.
Written by Kimberly Holland on August 6, Read this next. Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M. Eyelid Inflammation Blepharitis. Medically reviewed by Ann Marie Griff, O. Facial Tic Disorder. Medically reviewed by Nancy Hammond, M.
Eyelid Disorders. Medically reviewed by University of Illinois. Hemifacial Spasm. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. The length of the blocking of blood flow determines the severity of an ischemic stroke. According to the American Stroke Association, approximately a third of people who experience TIA have a full stroke within a year. Although very rare, eye twitching can be a sign of a brain or nervous system disorder.
This includes multiple sclerosis MS , dystonia, Tourette syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and Bell's palsy. If this is the case, other symptoms are also present, not just eye twitching alone. Eye twitching is normal for some. However, it can be a cause for concern when the twitching becomes persistent, is present in other parts of the body, or starts to show signs of inflammation.
When this happens, seek medical help immediately. Eye twitching may be a sign of stroke, multiple sclerosis, and other nervous system-related disorders. The best way to control eyelid spasms is based on the cause of the twitching. For example, if twitching is caused by a certain situation, do the following:. Regardless of the cause of eye twitching, applying a warm compress to your eye helps. Some people have had success using a chamomile tea bag as a compress.
Gentle massaging also tends to help. Speak to your doctor about your eye twitching concerns if they do not resolve within a few weeks with at-home treatment. All Vision Center content is medically reviewed and fact-checked by a licensed optometrist to ensure the information is factual and meets industry standards.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only cite from recent scientific research, scholarly articles, textbooks, government agencies, optometry websites, and medical journals. Updated on October 26, Medically Reviewed by. Written by. Stress is probably the most common cause of eye twitching. Yoga, breathing exercises, spending time with friends or pets and getting more down time into your schedule are ways to reduce stress that may be causing your eyelid twitch.
Lack of sleep, whether because of stress or some other reason, can trigger eye twitching. Catching up on your sleep and having a consistent sleep schedule can help. Eye strain — particularly digital eye strain from overuse of computers, tablets and smartphones — also is a common cause of eyelid twitching.
Follow the " rule" when using digital devices: Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen and allow your eyes to focus on a distant object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds or longer.
This reduces fatigue that may trigger eye twitching. Also, ask your eye doctor about computer eyeglasses to relieve digital eye strain.
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