Almost all adults are familiar with the feeling of having a eye twitch. This is because it is a common sporadic condition when there is a problem of insomnia, stress or dry eyes and, nowadays, who does not go through periods of high nervousness and little restful sleep?
However, when we receive a patient who asks us, concerned: "...", we are not always able to answer the question.why is my eye twitching?"If we are not sure that this occasional tremor is, in fact, a benign involuntary movement, we must make sure that it is a benign involuntary movement.
We are going to list the common causes of nervous tics and when to consult an ophthalmologist immediately. We will then look at how to calm the tremor when, although benign, it causes us to feel uneasy.
¿What causes eye twitches??
Nerve twitches in one or both eyes are caused by small, rapid and slight muscle contractions in the eyelid area, although the sufferer often feels that they are too noticeable. In fact, many of these benign tics are not even spasms, but fasciculations: involuntary, mild muscle contractions that do not result in any noticeable movement. The most common type of eye twitching is called myokymia and occurs in most people at some point in their lives.
The trigger for these transient tremors, which usually resolve within minutes, is not entirely clear. We know that stress and lack of sleep play a role, as they may also be a natural response to a problem of dry eyes.
Of course, eyelid tremor can have other causes, related to eye disease or neurological damage, although they represent a very small percentage of those who come to the doctor's office.
Some psychologists argue that the left eye twitch has an emotional significance. They argue that the right side of the brain processes more emotional reactions and this is the hemisphere that controls the movements of the left side of the body and the face.
In reality, any of the factors that cause eyelid spasms can affect both eyes, including the anxietyThis hypothesis seems to us to be risky from an ophthalmological point of view.
Should you worry if you suffer from an eye twitch?
It is advisable to consult a specialist if a tremor in the eye that does not go away or is accompanied by certain symptoms or appears on the left side only.
If you start to suffer from episodes of eye twitching, the first thing to try is to get more sleep and control your stress or anxiety. Sometimes this alone will make the twitching go away in a few days.
If it does not remit, consult your ophthalmologist if you suffer from dry eyes or eyestrain. With some artificial tears and by not abusing the use of digital devices, especially at night, you will say goodbye to that twitching in your left eye, in your right eye, or that sometimes manifests itself in one eye and sometimes in the other.
In the event of any of the following symptoms, or when the involuntary contraction continues for more than seven to ten days, you should seek immediate consultation with a team of ophthalmologists capable of performing a complete examination, as we do at Nebro Ophthalmology Clinic.
- The affected eyelid closes involuntarily after each twitch. In this case, we are not talking about simple twitching and must find out what causes these more marked muscle spasms.
- There are signs of infection such as redness or discharge from the eye or eyelids.
- The eye or eyelid looks swollen.
- You have other symptoms: dizziness, visual disturbances, nausea, pain...
In these cases, a complete ophthalmological examination will find the cause of the tremor or will indicate whether a neurologist should also see you.
How you can soothe eye twitches
If you suddenly notice a twitching eye without any additional symptoms or if it happens from time to time, coinciding with well-identified causes, you can try the following tips to calm the episode and reduce the likelihood of a recurrence in a short time.
Sleep hygiene
Lack of sleep or lack of restful rest, in which we go through all the phases of sleep, is often the main trigger for benign and transient eye twitches. The solution to these tremors is as simple, or as complex, as trying to have a good sleep hygiene.
Stress management
Similar to sleep deprivation, stress is responsible for many benign tremors, including eyelid tremor.
If we notice that the patient is really stressed, we should consider mentioning the benefits of psychological therapy or start including relaxation exercises and any other tricks that help to improve stress and promote a good night's rest.
Ensuring the necessary supply of vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 deficiency drastically affects the nervous system and can even cause dementia. Before reaching such extremes, it may manifest itself with symptoms of little clinical significance, such as occasional twitching of the eye.
Even people with diets rich in this vitamin can suffer from a deficiency due to poor intestinal absorption of the vitamin. If in doubt, we will ask for a blood test. As a patient, you can ask your general practitioner yourself toe include this parameter the next time you test your blood.
Try certain eye exercises
When you are working with digital devices, stop every hour for a few minutes and blink slowly 5-10 times. Then look to one side without turning your head and look the other way. Focus far away or lean out of a window.
With these simple exercises you promote eye moisture and reduce eyestrain, two other common causes of eye twitches, especially if they appear at the end of the day.
If necessary, use artificial tears recommended by your ophthalmologist.
Popular culture associates eye twitching with nervousness, and this is not far off the mark, but there may be other causes, including illness. In the latter case, eyelid twitching is accompanied by other symptoms. We have discussed them so that you know when to see your ophthalmologist without delay and when you can wait for your next check-up.