Eye twitching can be a pretty common condition among many people. This usually involves the bottom lid although there are instances when the upper eyelid can also twitch. They usually come and go and can last from days to months.
Most of them are not exactly serious and could be a sign of a medical problem. However, knowing what caused it can be hard. The problem is that these are the kind of eye twitching that can be the most hard to diagnose as it can manifest a variety of medical conditions.
If you have been suffering from eye twitching, it is important that you consult a doctor to figure out the cause and get it treated immediately. Oftentimes, treating its main cause is the only way to get rid of it.
Eye Twitching Causes
- Stress. We all react in a variety of ways to stress and eye twitching can be a sign of it for some people.
- Tiredness. Exhaustion or lack of sleep can trigger some eyelid spasms.
- Eye strain. Stress related to vision can cause eye twitching. It can mean that you need to wear glasses or get your old one changed.
- Caffeine and alcohol. Consuming excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol can trigger twitches in the eyes. The top sources of caffeine include coffee, soda, and tea.
- Dry eyes. This is a condition common in people who are aging. This can also manifest in those who frequently use computers, wear contact lenses, take certain medications, and consume caffeine and alcohol. Those who are stressed or tired can also suffer from dry eyes.
- Nutritional imbalances. Some studies have shown that the lack of particular nutrients, like magnesium, has shown to cause eyelid spasms, although more scientific evidence is still needed to back this up.
- Allergies. Those that suffer from eye allergies can experience swelling, itching, and watery eyes. When the eyes are rubbed, histamine gets released to the lid tissues. Some evidences have said that histamine can cause eye twitching.
- Irritation. Certain irritants that get to the eye such as dust, smoke, and other small particles can trigger eye twitching.
- Primary congenital glaucoma. This is a condition in infants where eye twitching is seen.
- Conditions of the central nervous system (CNS) and brain. Such kinds of medical conditions, like stroke, can result to eyelid twitching.
Eye Twitching Remedies
If the twitching affects half of your face or your entire eye so that you lids clamp shut, it is important that you get your eye twitches consulted with a health care practitioner. This way, the necessary tests can be performed to figure out its cause. From here, a treatment plan can then be designed to eliminate the twitching.
However, in some rare cases, there are instances that they will just not go away. There are also instances when their cause remains to be unknown. In such cases, Botox injections have been very helpful in stopping the muscle contraction and the twitches.
About the Author:
Amy C. works as a writer for an eye health blog. She mostly gives home-based and natural remedies for the most common health problems of the eyes. Amy also helps in the blogging activities for Lasik Houston, a center providing Lasik eye surgery by top Houston Lasik surgeon. Stay tuned for her next post for more of her quick and easy eye problem remedies.