Eye Twitching: 8 Causes and Treatments

Why is my eye twitching?

Causes of eye twitching include:

Stress

Fatigue

Eye strain

Caffeine

Alcohol

Dry eyes

Nutrition problems

Allergies

What is an eye twitch?

An eye twitch (or more accurately an eyelid twitch) is an uncontrollable eyelid spasm. Most eye twitching lasts only a few minutes, but sometimes an eyelid twitch can persist for days or longer.

When your eyelid is twitching, you might think everyone else can see it. But most eye twitches are subtle and are not easily seen by others.

The medical term for eye twitching is myokymia.

How can I stop eye twitching?

To stop your eyelid twitching, figure out what the possible causes might be.

Sometimes, making minor changes to your diet and lifestyle can significantly reduce your risk of eye twitching or help make an eyelid twitch disappear.

Let's review the causes of eye twitching and the possible solutions:

1. Stress

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.

2. Fatigue

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.

3. Eye strain

Eye strain — particularly digital eye strain from overuse of computers, tablets and smartphones — also is a common cause of eyelid twitching.

Follow the "20-20-20 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.

INFOGRAPHIC: How to stop eye twitching

4. Caffeine

Too much caffeine can trigger eye twitching. Try cutting back on coffee, tea and soft drinks (or switch to decaffeinated versions) for a week or two and see if your eye twitching disappears.

5. Alcohol

If you experience eye twitching after drinking beer, wine or liquor, take a break from the booze, since alcohol consumption may cause eyelids to twitch.

6. Dry eyes

Many adults experience dry eyes, especially after age 50. Dry eyes also are very common among people who use computers, take certain medications (especially antihistamines and some antidepressants), wear contact lenses and consume caffeine and/or alcohol.

If you have a twitching eyelid and your eyes feel gritty or dry, consult your eye doctor for an evaluation. Restoring moisture to the surface of your eye may stop the twitching and decrease the risk of twitching in the future.

7. Nutrition problems

Some reports suggest a lack of certain nutritional elements, such as magnesium, can trigger eyelid spasms. Although these reports are not conclusive, this may be another possible cause of eye twitching.

If you are concerned that your diet may not be supplying all the nutrients you need for healthy vision, discuss this with your eye doctor before purchasing over-the-counter nutritional supplements.

8. Allergies

People with eye allergies can have itching, swelling and watery eyes. Rubbing your eyes because of allergy symptoms releases histamine into your eyelid tissues and tear film, which may cause eye twitching.

Sometimes, over-the-counter eye drops formulated to reduce allergy symptoms can be helpful, but antihistamines in these drops can cause dry eyes.

It's best to consult your eye doctor to make sure you're doing the right thing for your eyes if you experience allergy symptoms and eye twitching.

VIDEO: Eye twitching causes and treatments

Can Botox stop my eye twitching?

In rare cases, some eye twitching just won't go away, despite identifying possible causes and applying the suggested treatments.

Persistent eyelids twitches can be treated with Botox injections to stop the involuntary muscle contractions in the eyelid that cause the twitching.

When to see an eye doctor

See an eye doctor immediately if you experience persistent eye twitching, sudden changes in appearance or movement of half your face (including your eyelids), or if both eyelids clamp down so tight it's impossible to open your eyes. These can be signs of a serious condition.

If your eye twitching doesn't go away, it could signal a serious neurological condition affecting the eyelid — such as blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm.

These relatively rare conditions are more obvious and severe than common eye twitching and should be evaluated immediately by an eye doctor.

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