Eye twitching, also referred to in everyday language as “the eye jumping”, is a very common involuntary movement of the eyelid. It usually resolves on its own. If a right-eye twitch or left-eye twitch is recurrent, long-lasting and bothersome, you should always consult an ophthalmologist.
What Is Eye Twitching?
Eye twitching consists of repeated involuntary spasms — that is, contractions — of the muscles in the eyelid. It usually occurs after stress, lack of sleep or excessive fatigue. It is generally seen in one eye and in the upper eyelid. The contractions repeat every few seconds and may last for several minutes. These mild twitches caused by lifestyle factors are called myokymia. They do not cause pain and no treatment is needed. They will resolve on their own after a while with lifestyle changes. However, the slight tugging sensation in the eyelid produced by even these very mild contractions can create discomfort that affects daily life. Still, contrary to what is felt, eye twitching is generally not noticed by others. In most cases it resolves within a day or two. However, there are also cases that persist for weeks or months.
There may also be cases that cause the eyelids to close completely or partially. These continuous and involuntary contractions are called blepharospasm and, because they can lead to permanent vision loss, they must be treated.
Furthermore, if there are involuntary contractions in other areas of the face, even if mild, this may be a sign of different health problems. You should always consult an ophthalmologist.
What Causes Eye Twitching?
The causes of eye twitching are not known precisely. However, this condition is thought to arise from the brain’s motor nerves. Particularly in lifestyle-related twitches, although the person may not be able to identify the exact cause, it is possible to answer the question “why does the eye twitch”.
- Disturbances in sleep patterns or insufficient sleep prevent the eye muscles from resting adequately, which in turn causes eye twitching.
- Physical fatigue can cause eye twitching, and eye strain is among the most common causes.
- Although stress generally causes emotional problems, in some people it can lead to eye twitching. It is a particularly common condition in students preparing for exams. If possible, the sources of stress should be avoided and stress-reduction techniques applied.
- Our eye muscles can sometimes respond to eye infections with contractions. This too causes eye twitching.
- Refractive errors such as hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism that have not yet been noticed or diagnosed can also lead to eye twitching. The right approach is for a specialist doctor to make the diagnosis and apply the necessary treatment.
- In people with allergies to substances such as dust and pollen, contact between these antigens and the eye causes complaints of itching, burning and stinging in the eyes, as well as twitching. In such cases, the person frequently rubs the bothersome eye. This results in the production of histamine, which causes eye twitching. When the allergic condition is resolved with appropriate treatment from an ophthalmologist, the eye twitching also resolves.
- Dry eye — caused by ageing, contact-lens use, or prolonged screen viewing, leading to excess evaporation or insufficient tear production — is also among the causes. Caffeine and alcohol consumption, contact-lens use and certain medications can also trigger dry eye. When dry eye is treated, the eye twitching also resolves. For more detailed information about dry eye, you may wish to review our article on dry eye.
- Spending long periods in brightly lit environments or looking directly at intense light sources can, in some cases, cause eye twitching.
- External irritants such as wind and air pollution can also cause eye twitching.
- Excessive consumption of caffeine and alcohol leads to dehydration, reducing the amount of water in the body. In such situations, dry eye and twitching can be triggered.
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can result from irregular and unbalanced nutrition. If there is no other underlying cause, you may eliminate eye twitching with a balanced diet.
- Vitamin D, which aids the absorption of calcium, helps muscles relax. In the case of vitamin D deficiency, involuntary contractions in the eye muscles can lead to complaints of eye twitching. However, because improperly used food and vitamin supplements disrupt the vitamin and mineral balance, you should always consult your doctor before taking any medication or supplement.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency, as well as causing other health problems, can also cause eye twitching. However, because improperly used food and vitamin supplements disrupt the vitamin and mineral balance, you should always consult your doctor before taking any medication or supplement.
- Magnesium imbalance — which can be caused by water loss — can lead to many muscle spasms, including eye twitching.
- Eye twitching can be observed as a side effect of certain medications. In such cases, you may consult your doctor and request a change of medication.
Neurological diseases may also be an answer to the question what causes the eye to twitch. If you have eye twitching that persists for a long time, is severe or is becoming more frequent, you should always consult an ophthalmologist to determine whether this is a sign of another condition.
How Does Eye Twitching Clear?
Eye twitching often resolves on its own within a few days or a few weeks. Twitches lasting more than a month may be due to neurological causes or other health problems. The causes of these long-lasting twitches should be investigated and treatment should begin immediately under the supervision of a specialist doctor. If considered appropriate for treatment, laboratory tests and radiological imaging studies such as MRI may also be carried out. Where necessary, your doctor may refer you to specialists of other branches for evaluation.
The causes listed above — lifestyle-related dietary problems, sleeplessness, stress, exposure to bright light from computers, and consumption of alcohol and caffeine — usually cause short-term eye twitching, and it is possible to resolve the problem with small changes in daily habits.
- Sleeping 7–8 hours a day also rests the eye muscles.
- Through a balanced diet, the vitamins and minerals the body needs can be obtained in sufficient amounts and the problem can be resolved.
- By learning and applying stress-management techniques, the effects of stress can be reduced.
- Tea, coffee, fizzy drinks and alcohol should be consumed less.
- Daily water intake should be monitored to prevent dehydration.
- If dry eye is present, artificial-tear drops can be used.
- Wearing sunglasses in seasons of intense sunlight will be beneficial.
- When spending long periods in front of bright screens such as computers and televisions, the eyes should be rested at frequent intervals.
- If an allergic condition is responsible, avoiding allergens will be beneficial.
- If the cause is the side effects of medications you are using, you can consult the relevant doctor to have these medications or their dosages changed.
We wish you healthy days, with your eyes free of strain.
Prepared by the Editorial Board of the Eye Foundation Hospitals.
