Eye twitching: What is it, causes, tips to help calm your eyelid!

Zee Media Bureau

Have you ever experienced an eye twitching? You may be wondering why that is happening and what causes this perplexing phenomena.

An eye twitching is a repetitive, involuntary blinking or spasm of the eyelid muscles, usually the upper lid.

 

Eye twitching is not a serious condition for most people, typically resulting from excessive stress or fatigue, whereas for others, it may be an outcome of a more serious genetic disorder leading to chronic irritation or visual problems.

There are three common types of eye twitch namely-

Eyelid twitching or myokymia: This affects only the eyelid, either the lower or upper lid (but only one at a time) and is often painless and harmless. It occurs in normal individuals and usually disappears within a short time, but may recur again.

Eyelid twitching is often linked to lifestyle factors such as - stress, fatigue, caffeine, alcohol intake, smoking

Benign essential blepharospasm: This condition can interfere with your daily life as it starts with excessive blinking of both eyes. Although uncommon, it can be extremely severe where the eyelids stay shut for up to several hours.

Researchers believe that benign essential blepharospasm may result from a combination of environmntal and genetic factors.

Hemifacial spasm: This condition is quite rare and if it occurs it involves twitches of muscles around the mouth - usually affecting only one side of the face – including the eyelid.

According to the Mayo Clinic, hemifacial spasm is typically caused by a small artery that irritates a facial nerve.

Determining the underlying causes and knowing your risk factors can help eliminate or relieve aye twitching. Here are some simple things you can do to cut down your risk:

• Avoid straining your eyes.
• If twitching starts while you are working, do not look at your computer, instead close your eyes for some time.
• Relax your eyelids lightly in a circular motion using your middl fingers.
• Get adequate sleep.
• Limit your caffeine intake
• Stop or moderate your alcohol intake
• Drink plenty of water
• Apply a warm compress to your eyes when a spasm occurs
• See a doctor if twirching persists for more than a week, redness, swelling , or discharge from an eye.