I Get Twitches in My Eyes. Is That Normal?
Eye twitching can be a disturbing phenomenon, especially if it seems to come out of nowhere, has no apparent cause, and is persistent. But is it something normal that most if not all people will experience? Further, if your eye starts twitching, what exactly can you do about it, if anything?
Most of the time, an eyelid twitch, which is an involuntary spasm of the eyelid, is nothing to worry about. The majority of people can’t even see most eyelid twitches, and they generally do not do any real harm, although they can feel very strange. Read on to learn more about what eye twitches are, what causes them, and what you can do about them.
What Can You Do About Eye Twitches?
In most cases, eye twitches will go away on their own. In fact, trying to do something to your eye to get rid of them could agitate your eyes further. However, here are a few steps you can take to get your eye twitching to stop sooner.
Reduce caffeine – Caffeine is a stimulant and is known to cause twitching when consumed at higher-than-normal doses. If you’ve been having more coffee or soda than usual, you may want to hold off or switch to decaf until your eye-twitching problem has been resolved.
Lower stress – Stress is another common culprit of eye twitching. If you suspect your eye is twitching in response to stress, take yourself out of the stressful situation and try meditation or relaxation exercises to help you calm down.
Take a nap – Your eye twitching may be a signal your body is sending you that your eyes—and the rest of you—are tired. Get a little extra shuteye in the form of a nap or an earlier bedtime, and see if this resolves the problem.
Eyedrops – It is possible that your eyes are twitching because they are too dry. If your eyes feel excessively dry and you are having eyelid twitches, then moisturizing tears may help.
20-20-20 – Digital eyestrain is another common cause of twitching. Staring at screens for too long can dry out and stress out your eyes. Remember to always follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every twenty minutes, turn your head away from the screen and look at something twenty feet away for twenty seconds before going back to your screen.
What If Your Eye Twitches Don’t Go Away?
Although rare, there are some neurological disorders that can be characterized by eye twitching, such as Blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm. These are more serious conditions that require medical treatment, so if your eye twitching persists for several days and the above remedies do not seem to alleviate the twitching, you should make an appointment to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Even if you are not suffering from prolonged eye twitching, it’s a good idea to have your eyes checked if you haven’t in a while. If you are in danger of any eye health problems, the sooner you identify them, the better it will be for your eyes, and even if your eyes are in generally good health, regular checkups can help ensure that you stay that way and enjoy the best vision possible.
If it’s been some time since your last checkup and you’re in the Portland Metro area, we at Beaumont Vision would love for you to stop by. You’ll get expert care from residency-trained optometric physicians who will give you a complete and thorough eye exam. We can even fill your prescription and have a beautiful array of modern and stylish lenses to choose from. Contact us for an appointment today!