Eye twitching (blepharospasm) is an abnormal, involuntary blinking or spasm of the eyelids.
Most of the time eye twitches don’t mean anything, but sometimes they can be a sign of a problem with the nervous system.
It is unknown what causes eye twitching but is thought to be due to an abnormal function of the basal ganglia, the part of the brain responsible for controlling muscles.
Why Is My Eye Twitching?
Eye twitching may be a sign of some conditions that usually go away on their own such as:
- Consumption of caffeine or other stimulants
- Lack of sleep
- Nicotine from smoking and tobacco use
- Stress or anxiety (“nervous ticks”)
- Eye irritation or dryness
- Dehydration
- Accumulation of lactic acid (lactic acidosis) or electrolyte deficiency due to physical activity
- Nutrient deficiencies such as vitamin D, vitamin B, and calcium
- Side effects of medications such as diuretics, antidepressants, some seizure medications, corticosteroids, estrogen pills, and some drugs used to treat psychosis
Rarely, genetics may play a role in the development of blepharospasm.
Benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) is a form of eye twitching that is a progressive neurological disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of Eye Twitching?
Symptoms of eye twitching (blepharospasm) include:
- Spasm of the eyelids
- Gradual increase in blinking
- Involuntary eyelid closure
- Eye irritation
- Sensitivity to bright light
- Fatigue
- Emotional tension
- Symptoms become more frequent as the condition progresses in benign essential blepharospasm (BEB)
- Facial spasms may develop in BEB
Eye twitching may lessen or stop when a person is concentrating on a specific task or sleeping.
How to Stop Eye Twitching
No treatment may be needed for less serious and often temporary causes of muscle twitching, and twitching will usually go away on its own. When treatment is needed, it depends on the cause may include:
- Consumption of caffeine or other stimulants
- Reduce or avoid caffeine or stimulant use
- Lack of sleep
- Try to maintain good hygiene and get adequate sleep
- Nicotine from smoking and tobacco use
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco
- Stress or anxiety (“nervous ticks”)
- Practice stress reduction techniques such as mediation, deep breathing, or yoga
- Eye irritation or dryness
- If there is no underlying medical condition causing eye irritation or dryness, lubricating eye drops may help
- Dehydration
- Increase water intake
- Physical activity due to:
- Accumulation of lactic acid (lactic acidosis)
- Reduce intensity or duration of exercise
- Get adequate fluid intake
- Rest
- Electrolyte deficiency
- Drink enough water while exercising
- Consume coconut water or sports drinks with electrolytes
- Accumulation of lactic acid (lactic acidosis)
- Nutrient deficiencies such as vitamin D, vitamin B, and calcium
- Dietary modifications or nutritional supplements
- Side effects of medications
- Talk to your doctor about changing to another medication that may not cause the eye twitching
- Do not stop taking any medications without first talking to your doctor
There is no cure for benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) but treatments that can reduce its severity include:
- Oculinum (botulinum toxin, or Botox) injection into the muscles of the eyelids
- Medications
- Symptom relief is usually short term
- Medicines are only helpful in about 15% of cases
- Surgery
- Myectomy: removes some of the muscles and nerves of the eyelids and improves symptoms in 75 to 85 percent of patients
- Alternative therapies (not proven)
- Acupuncture
- Biofeedback
- Chiropractic
- Hypnosis
- Nutritional therapy
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https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/blepharospasm
https://www.blepharospasm.org/blepharospasm-oral-medications1.html