Eyelid Twitching: Is It Normal?

Almost everyone experiences it…random, spastic eyelid twitches can be annoying and sometimes frightening. It is easy to jump to the conclusion that they are being caused by a condition of a larger scale, but this is a common misconception.

7 things you should know about Eyelid Twitching

1. Also termed “blepharospasm”, eyelid twitches are caused by repetitive, involuntary spasms in the eyelid muscles. These muscles can spasm randomly at any moment.
2. Against the common perception, sudden-onset eye twitching is largely unlikely to be caused by a more serious medical condition. Eye twitching is however, hard to treat without an underlying medical issue.
3. Eyelid twitches typically occur sporadically, though some people have reported to experience these for a few consecutive days or weeks at a time. Though highly uncommon, consecutive eyelid twitching is more likely to be caused by a health issue on a larger scale.
4. Some triggers of eyelid twitches can include: stress, fatigue, eyestrain, caffeine and alcohol consumption, tobacco usage, dry eyes, allergies, or nutritional imbalances. When stressed, the human body produces a steroid called endogenous cortisol which is a biological warning sign to the body. When this happens, it is important to ask yourself if it is possible that you can mediate any of the aforementioned environmental factors to alleviate stress on your body.
5. If reducing stress does not alleviate the twitches, it may be caused by eyestrain from an outdated prescription. If you believe this is the case, consult your eye doctor to perform a vision test and comprehensive eye health exam.
6. Eyelid twitches will rarely continue despite efforts to alleviate these triggers. If the symptoms persist, it can be treated with Botox injections which will help prevent the muscles in your eyelid from contracting.
7. Eyelid spasms are considered a medical emergency only when the twitch is accompanied by red or swollen eyes, unusual discharge, a drooping eyelid or twitching in other parts of the face. These may be symptoms of a more serious neurological disorder or other medical condition.

As you can see, eyelid twitching is almost always nothing to worry about. If you are experiencing these spasms, make adjustments to your lifestyle to aid in alleviating these symptoms.: