CAUSES OF EYE TWITCHING
Eye twitching, eyelid tics and spasms are pretty common. Usually only the bottom lid of one eye is involved, but the top eyelid also can twitch. Most eye twitches come and go, although they can last for weeks or even months.
To find a solution for twitching eyes, we needed to determine the underlying cause of this annoying problem. Called myokymia in doctor lingo, these rippling muscle contractions in an eyelid can be triggered by:
- Eye strain (need glasses?)
- Tiredness
- Stress
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Dry eyes
- Nutritional imbalances
- Allergies
Almost all sudden-onset eyelid twitching is benign, meaning the condition is not serious or a sign of a medical problem. However, this kind of eye twitching also can be hard to treat. The only option for making the twitching stop may be to figure out the cause and deal with it.
More serious forms of eyelid twitching are caused by neurological conditions such as blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm. These conditions are much less common and should be diagnosed and treated by an eye doctor.
NOTE FROM DR. HOERCHER ABOUT EYE STRAIN:
Eye Strain is the main reason for twitching. There is a muscle called the obicularis oculi that encircles the eye. This muscle is the one we engage when we squint. When a person needs glasses, they will try to "crank in focusing" by squeezing their lids, hence triggering the annoying twitch. Very often, wearing the right glasses or contact lens prescription will alleviate the twitch. The second most common cause is allergy. It wasn't until clinical trials for an eye drop to relieve allergy symptoms unexpectedly reduced lid twitch that anyone knew that this could be part of an allergic response. If you are experiencing eye twitching please schedule an appointment with us today!
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