Eye twitches are commonly known as Blepharospasm. It can be annoying,
but it is generally harmless and is generally due to involuntary spasms in the
muscles of the eyelid. Eye twitches often occur randomly and infrequently and
will last for a period of a few hours up to a few days. They usually disappear
on their own and have no long term side effects; very rarely some serious cases
may require surgical treatment.
The important thing about a
twitching eye is that they can be triggered by a variety of different factors.
Read on for 8 possible causes
8 Reasons your
Eye Twitches
Stress - While we're all under stress at
times, our bodies react in different ways. Eye twitching can be one sign of
stress, especially when it is related to vision problems such as eye strain.
Reducing the cause of the stress can help make the twitching stop.
Tiredness - A lack of sleep, whether because
of stress or some other reason, can trigger eyelid spasms. Catching up on your
sleep can help.
Eye strain - Vision-related stress can occur
if, for instance, you need glasses or a change of glasses. Your eyes may be
working too hard, triggering eyelid twitching. Computer eye strain from
computer use is also a very common cause of vision-related stress.If your
eyelid twitching is persistent and very annoying you should have an eye exam,
because you may need vision correction. If you spend a lot of time on the
computer, you also should consider talking to your eye doctor about special
computer eyeglasses.
Caffeine and alcohol - Many experts believe that too
much caffeine and/or alcohol can trigger eye twitches. If your caffeine
(coffee, tea, fizzy drinks etc.) and/or alcohol intake has increased, cutting
back is worth a try.
Dry eyes - More than half the older
population experiences dry eyes, due to aging. Dry eyes also are very common
for people who use computers, take certain medications (antihistamines,
antidepressants, etc.), wear contact lenses and consume caffeine and/or
alcohol. If you are tired and under stress, you also may develop dry eye. It’s
best to see your eye doctor for a dry eye evaluation, because many treatments
are now available.
Nutritional imbalances - Some reports indicate a lack of
certain nutritional substances, such as magnesium, can trigger eyelid spasms.
If you suspect a nutritional deficiency may be affecting you, talk this over
with your family doctor or natural health expert for expert advice.
Allergies - People with eye allergies can
have itching, swelling and watery eyes. When eyes are rubbed, this releases
histamine into the lid tissues and the tears. This is significant; because some
evidence indicates that histamine can cause eyelid twitching. To offset this
problem, some eye doctors have recommended antihistamine eye drops or tablets
to help some eyelid twitches. But remember that antihistamines also can cause
dry eyes.
When to Contact
a Medical Professional
Call your GP if
Eyelid twitching does not go away within 1 week
Twitching completely closes your eyelid
Twitching involves other parts of your face
You have redness, swelling, or a discharge from your eye
Your upper eyelid is drooping
Remember
When your eyelid is twitching, you may feel that everyone else can see
it, as in this animation that exaggerates the movement. But usually the spasm
is so subtle that others wouldn't even notice
No comments:
Post a Comment