Eye twitches are common and can be due to several causes, such as eye strain, irritation, or lack of sleep. Persistent and prolonged spasms could be an indication of other health conditions.
An eyelid twitch or twitch is a continuous, uncontrollable muscle spasm in the eyelids.
Eyelid twitches are typically seen at random intervals lasting minutes and an hour. The spasms may be present for several days or a few weeks.
Most cramps aren’t painful, safe, and can be cured without treatment.
In rare instances, the eyelid spasms can indicate the early signs of a recurring motion disorder, especially if these spasms occur along with other people’s facial movements or uncontrollable movements.
What Causes It?
- The reason for the small eyelid movements is not known.
- A primary blepharospasm can be described as an acute dystonia or abnormal movement caused by the brain’s area that regulates movement. The cause for essential blepharospasm will rarely be due to a mental illness.
- The reason for hemifacial spasm is believed to be an issue with the facial nerve muscles that cause facial muscles to contract.
What does Left Eye Twitching mean?
Learn about the most popular beliefs regarding eye movements in various parts of the globe.
The Caribbean region, twitching the left eye, can be connected to your family members or friends who are slamming you to you in bad news or even trouble.
Indians consider that left-eye jumping can bring bad luck to women, while it is a great signal for males.
In Chinese cultural tradition, various interpretations of the eye-twitching phenomenon are related to the timing of the day.
If the eye is twitching from midnight to 3 a.m., the possibility is that it could be a sign of a problem coming up.
A wiggled eye and a belief that the time it falls between 9 to 11 a.m. signifies that something positive happened to you, but it is your responsibility to repay the favor.
If you notice your eyes flit between 3 and 4 p.m., your planned events will be exactly as you planned.
But, if the eye is twitching within the 3-6 p.m. range, it may indicate an economic loss.
In African cultures, twitching of the upper lid in the left eye signifies it’s a signal for an unexpected visit, while the lower eyelid’s twitching signifies that tears will follow.
In Egypt, the belief is that if you’re about to receive bad news, evil is linked to the left eye.
In Hawaii, the state of Hawaii, this indicates the stranger’s entry into the family.
Eye twitches of various types
The other less popular kinds of eyelids that twitch are:
Essential blepharospasm
Eyelids that are affected by blepharospasm can cause them to shut spontaneously. The effect can resemble blinking or even winking. However, the eyes may shut for a longer time in certain instances. Blepharospasm could last for only a few seconds or some hours, and some individuals aren’t able to be able to see for a while.
Doctors believe that a problem in the nerves surrounding the eyes triggers the essential blepharospasm, but they aren’t sure why it occurs. Sometimes, a medical condition that causes it, like Parkinson’s disease, can trigger it.
Hemifacial spasm
Hemifacial spasm is an uncommon condition that causes muscles on the opposite face side to relax. Sometimes, it starts at the eye and causes eyelid muscles to contract before it affects other facial areas.
Hemifacial muscle spasms could be triggered by themselves, caused by something pressing the nerves that control facial muscles, or because of other conditions.
How to keep your eyes from twitching
To stop the common eyelid myokymias, easy steps consist of:
- A good night’s sleep and frequent eye breaks,
- Reduced caffeinated beverages
- The application of lubricating eye drops, as well as
- Conducting eyelid hygiene to eliminate any excess oil accumulated on the edge of your eyelid can be helpful.
To clean your eyes, it is possible to use over-the-counter cleaners for the eyelids, or you can use baby shampoo mixed with warm water. Use a pad or cotton bud to gently clean your eyelid area near the roots of your lashes in an upward direction at least twice per day.
What is the best time to visit a doctor?
As per Cohen and Turbin Cohen and Turbin, it is recommended to consult a physician if you notice your eyelid is twitching.
- Eyes are involved.
- Are accompanied by spasms in different muscles in the face.
- The duration is longer than just a few weeks
- Slowly get worse as time passes
- This is often accompanied by numbness, tenderness, pain, or an asymmetry of the face.
- Causes headache or vision loss
It’s crucial to ensure that myokymia is the cause of the twitching eyelid issue that is completely isolated — it’s not the result of a neurologic condition such as medication or other, according to Turbin.
There are several circumstances in which eyelid twitching could occur. You should make an appointment with a physician to get a better treatment plan:
- According to Cohen, the eyes shut involuntarily more often than usual and can impact the capacity to read and navigate safely. The condition could eventually develop into spasms, making it hard to keep the eye open and force the lids to close. In extreme cases, the eye shutting can take up to an hour. Around 20,000-50,000 people living in the U.S. have benign essential blepharospasm.
- Meige syndrome Meige syndrome can be described as a nerve system disorder that causes frequent, uncontrollable contractions of muscles that move your eye, jaw, tongue, and lower facial muscles.
- “Hemifacial spasm occurs when muscles of one face side are contracted involuntarily, including the eyelids,” Cohen says. Cohen. This disorder in the nervous system could be affecting one side of the face, but it is not the case that both face sides are affected at once.
- Infections: Certain illnesses like botulism, tetanus, or Lyme diseases can cause uncontrollable muscle contractions or sudden weakness of facial muscles, says Turbin.
- Other nervous system and brain diseases like Bell’s palsy, dystonia, and multiple sclerosis could also result in eyelid twitching. However, it’s usually accompanied by additional symptoms, including numb facial area or complete or partially lost of sight.
Insider’s advice for the insider
The precise cause behind the blinking eyelids isn’t yet understood. However, various factors like stress, fatigue, or strain on the eyes could be the cause.
It’s the reason getting enough sleep in the evening, not drinking too much caffeine, managing anxiety, as well as taking breaks while you’re glued to your computer throughout the day are crucial to managing myokymia and, ultimately, treating it.
The twitching of the eyelids can be gone in its own time, but when it’s coupled with additional symptoms, such as headache, facial numbness, or muscle spasms that affect facial muscles and neck, it’s best to consult a physician to have the issue checked.