You may have experienced this before. Out of nowhere, your eyelid starts twitching uncontrollably. While this can be a cause of aggravation, eyelid twitches, spasms, or tics are actually quite common.
Here are 5 things you should know about this eye condition:
1. Eye twitches are generally caused by a repetitive, involuntary spasm in your eyelid muscles. The medical term for an eye twitch is a blepharospasm.
2. Almost all sudden onset eye twitching is not considered to be a serious medical condition, though it can be hard to treat without knowing the underlying cause.
3. Eyelid twitches can occur sporadically, though some people have been known to feel them for a few consecutive days or weeks.
4. Stress, tiredness, eyestrain, caffeine, alcohol or tobacco usage, dry eyes, allergies, or nutritional imbalances are factors that can trigger or exacerbate eye twitches. The body produces endogenous cortisol (a steroid) when stressed, which may cause biological warning signs to the body to de-stress.
5. Eyelid spasms are only considered a medical emergency when the twitch is accompanied by red or swollen eyes, unusual discharge, a drooping eyelid, or twitching in other parts of the face. These may be symptoms of a more serious neurological disorder.
If the twitching persists, talk to an eye doctor. Dr. Jenny Chan at Clarity Eyecare can help diagnose and treat after a thorough eye exam!
