Eye Twitching

Eye twitching happens when muscles in or near your eye move without you controlling them or wanting them to move. This is called a muscle spasm. It can happen to your eye itself, your eyelids or the muscles in your face around your eye.

Eyelid twitching is usually a harmless reaction that just happens sometimes. It’s normal for everyone to experience some twitches every once in a while. Reading this might even make you more likely to feel a twitch. But twitching can also be a sign or symptom of a medical condition that needs to be diagnosed.

Lots of issues can cause eye twitching. Visit an eye doctor if you notice constant, repeated twitching, or if the twitches affect your vision. They’ll help you understand why your eyes are twitching and what you’ll need to do to control it.

Types of eye twitching

Eye doctors classify eye twitching based on where it affects you and what it feels like. The types include:

• Myokymia: This is the most common kind. They’re small, slow, steady twitches that are most common in the eyelids, especially the lower ones. They usually don’t last long.
• Fasciculations: This kind affects the muscles in your eyelids and around your eye. You’ll feel a small, fast jerk that usually goes away quickly.
• Blepharospasm: This is when your eyelids spasm hard enough to make you blink or close your eyes. It can happen in one eye or both at the same time. The twitches may continue for up to an hour. Severe cases can make it feel like your eyes are forced shut.
• Hemifacial spasms: These are twitches that affect one side of your face. They usually start in your eyelids and spread out to eventually affect that whole side.

What are the most common causes of this symptom?

Twitching eyes can happen for lots of reasons. It depends on which type you have. But some of the most common causes include:

• Stress or anxiety
• Not getting enough sleep
• Stimulants like caffeine or nicotine
• Side effects from medications or recreational drugs
• Suddenly seeing a bright light, like walking outside on a sunny day after being in a dark room
• Eye strain
• Fatigue or physically overexerting yourself
• Infections that affect your muscles or nerves
• Malnutrition (rare)

Often, a combination of these factors leads to twitches. You might be able to take a moment and figure out which triggers you’re experiencing.

Health conditions that affect your brain and nerves can cause twitches, too, including:

• Dystonia
• Bell’s palsy

Rarely, causes can include:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• ALS
• Epilepsy
• Parkinson’s disease

Treatment for eye twitching depends on the type and cause. Most of the time, you won’t need any treatment. The most common kinds of eye twitches are harmless and go away on their own.

But if you do need treatment, your eye doctor or healthcare provider might suggest:

• Medications to treat the condition or infection that’s causing eye twitches
• Special glasses or contacts to help you see clearly again
• Botox® injections to relax overactive muscles
• Surgery to change your eye muscles, remove growths or manage certain conditions

When should this symptom be treated by a healthcare provider?

No matter what’s causing a twitch, visit an eye doctor or healthcare provider if you notice it often enough to make you worried. You know your body better than anyone. If the twitching is bothering you or affecting your vision, get it checked out. See someone right away if you notice any changes in your vision.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you start a new medication and notice eye twitches more often. This can be a side effect of some medications, and your provider needs to know about it.