Want to know the reasons for eye twitching?

Eyelids protect your eyes from many impurities like dust and other particles in the air. They are an important barrier between your eyes and anything harmful in the atmosphere around you. Yet, there are times when they become a cause for concern, like when eyelids start twitching insistently. Twitching eyelid, also known as Myokymia, is a repeated and involuntary spasm in the muscle of your eyelids. While it usually happens in the upper eyelids, there are times when it occurs in the lower eyelids too. The twitching feels like mild tugging on your eyelids in most cases. In severe cases, the tugs are strong enough to close the eyes. The twitching generally happens at the interval of a few seconds for a minute or two. There is no set schedule for the twitching, and it can occur on several days together or with a significant gap in between. Twitching eyelids are not a cause for concern in most cases and are harmless. In rare cases, it may be an indicator of bigger problems. The severity of the issue depends on the underlying causes for it.

Read Also: 8 things that can cause Eye Twitching and Eyelid Twitching

Reasons for Twitching Eyelids

There a number of causes for eyelids twitching, some more identifiable than others. To better tackle this issue, let’s take a look at the list of some of the main reasons behind it:

• Any irritation to the eyes caused by dust, chemicals etc
• The strain on eyelids caused by watching screens for too long can also be a cause.
• Extreme fatigue, especially in the eyes can be a reason for twitching.
• Lack of sleep is also a very prominent reason behind this problem.
• There are reactions to some medications that also lead to twitching eyelids.
• Spasms can also be caused by too much caffeine, tobacco or alcohol consumption.
• Smoking with its number of health deficits can also cause twitching.

The severe version of this problem is Blepharospasm, a condition whose symptoms can worsen any twitching of the eyelids. Here are some of the related symptoms that inflate the twitching:

• Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye.
• Dry eyes
• Increased light sensitivity
• Too much stress or anxiety
• Inflammation of one or both eyelids

Seeing the doctor

If the condition persists after you give adequate rest to your eyes and keep them safe from any irritant, then you need to take a closer look at the problem. Try to identify if you have some of the following additional symptoms:

• Drooping upper eyelids.
• Unusual discharge from the eyes
• Red or swollen eyelids
• Twitching spreading to other parts of the face

If you are experiencing any one or more of these symptoms for more than a week, it is definitely the time to consult with an ophthalmologist. Keep your eyes healthy and get them checked on regular intervals to avoid twitching eyelids and any other problems.

Article: Want to know the reasons for eye twitching | Causes for Eyelids Twitching
Author: Dr Chirag   |   Jul 24 2019 | UPDATED 02:00 IST

*The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of Centre for Sight.