Eye Health More Eye Issues & Safety Home Office Ergonomics Guide Home Office Ergonomics Guide Overview Your Back Back Pain Exercises Anatomy General Tips Products Holistic Help Your Neck Neck Pain Exercises Anatomy General Tips Products Holistic Help Your Eyes Eye Strain Exercises Anatomy General Tips Products Your Shoulders Shoulder Pain Exercises Anatomy General Tips Products Your Wrists Wrist Pain Exercises Anatomy Products Your Hands Hand Pain Exercises General Tips Products Your Hips Hip Pain Exercises Anatomy General Tips Products Your Knees Knee Pain Exercises Anatomy General Tips Products How to Stop Eye Twitching Treatment for minor to severe eye twitching By Troy Bedinghaus, OD Troy Bedinghaus, OD LinkedIn Troy L. Bedinghaus, OD, board-certified optometric physician, owns Lakewood Family Eye Care in Florida. He is an active member of the American Optometric Association. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 28, 2023 Medically reviewed by Johnstone M. Kim, MD Medically reviewed by Johnstone M. Kim, MD Johnstone M. Kim, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a practicing physician at Midwest Retina in Dublin, Ohio. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents At-Home Treatments Medical Treatments When to Get Help Frequently Asked Questions Next in Home Office Ergonomics Guide The 10 Best Blue Light Blocking Glasses of 2023, Tested By Our Editors Eye twitching—uncontrollable eyelid spasms—usually clears up on its own. Commonly caused by stress, allergies, or a lack of sleep, eye twitching (myokymia) typically occurs in one eye only. It might last for a minute, days, or weeks. At-home treatments to stop eye twitching include getting enough rest, cutting down on caffeine, and using a warm compress. Taking a break from screens, lowering your stress, and massaging your eyelid can also help to stop eye twitching. If home remedies for eye twitching fail to bring relief, see an ophthalmologist. Eye twitching can be due to a more serious health condition that requires treatment. Prescription medications, botox injections, and, in some cases, surgery may be needed to stop eye twitching. This article discusses how to stop eye twitching plus when you should get medical attention. Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin, Verywell Causes of Eyelid Twitching At-Home Treatments for Eye Twitching Minor eye twitches can often be treated at home. If you are dealing with eye twitching, a combination of the following may help. Reduce Stress Stress is a common cause of eye twitching. Look for ways to reduce stress in your daily life. Learning stress management techniques can help you better cope with stress. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends doing the following to lower your daily stress level: Avoid watching or reading news storiesConnect with people whose company you enjoyGet regular exerciseMake time to unwind and engage in activities you enjoyPractice meditation or yogaTake deep breaths How to Reduce Stress: Techniques to Manage Stress and More Cut Back on Caffeine Consuming too much caffeine can cause eye twitching, so naturally, cutting back on caffeine can help to stop it. Caffeine is found in chocolate, coffee, cola, energy drinks, tea, and some over-the-counter medicines. Most people can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine per day—about two strong cups of coffee. In addition to eye twitching, other side effects of too much caffeine include anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, a fast heart rate, and dependence. If your current caffeine intake is high, cut back slowly to minimize withdrawal symptoms. These include headaches, drowsiness, irritability, nausea, and trouble concentrating. How Much Caffeine Is Too Much? Get Plenty of Sleep Insufficient sleep is another common cause of eye twitching. If you aren't getting enough shuteye, improving the quantity and quality of your sleep can help ease a twitching eye. Adults should get at least seven hours of sleep a night. The CDC recommends the following tips for better sleep hygiene: Be consistent with going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, including on the weekends.Don't eat large meals or drink alcohol before bed.Keep the bedroom quiet, dark, and at a comfortable temperature.Move screens and electronic devices out of the bedroom. If these changes do not improve your sleep quality, talk to your healthcare provider. A sleep study can help to determine if you have a sleep disorder. How to Sleep Deeper Take Screen Breaks Digital eye strain caused by spending too much screen time can cause eye twitching. Known as computer vision syndrome, research suggests up to 90% of adults who regularly use devices experience digital eye strain. Other signs of computer vision syndrome include: Blurred vision Dry eyes Eye strain Headaches Neck and shoulder pain To prevent digital eyestrain, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends following the 20-20-20 rule. Take a screen break every 20 minutes to look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This can help your eyes relax. The 10 Best Blue Light Blocking Glasses of 2023, Tested By Our Editors Apply a Warm Compresses Eye twitches are tiny muscle contractions or spasms. Applying a warm compress can sometimes calm the twitch. Wet a clean washcloth with warm water, squeeze out the excess, and hold it to your eye for five to 10 minutes. Repeat as needed throughout the day. Use Eye Drops Tiredness, digital eye strain, and allergies can all lead to dry eyes, which contribute to eye twitching. Over-the-counter eye drops can help to soothe dry eyes. For dry eyes related to eye strain or fatigue, try saline eye drops. These are commonly labeled as lubricating, moisturizing, or natural tears. Eye twitching caused by ocular allergies (allergic conjunctivitis) may benefit from using antihistamine eye drops. These are often labeled as for allergies or eye itch relief. Treatment for Severe Eye Twitches If home remedies for eye twitching fail to bring relief, medical treatment may be needed. Persistent eye twitching can be treated with prescription medications, botox injections, and, in severe cases, surgery. Medication Prescription medications can help to relax the muscles around the eye to relieve eye twitching. Depending on the underlying cause of the eyelid spasms, your doctor may prescribe anxiety medications, muscle relaxers, sedatives, or, surprisingly, stimulants. Research shows medications that affect dopamine levels are often helpful for treating eyelid spasms. These include the ADHD medication methylphenidate and benzodiazepines such as Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), and Ativan (lorazepam). Botox Botox injections are often used to relieve eye twitching. The treatment involves injecting a tiny amount of botulinum toxin into five to eight sites around each eye. Botox works to relieve eye twitching by inhibiting the muscle's ability to release acetylcholine. This stops muscle contractions. Surgery When eyelid twitching is due to certain medical conditions, surgery may be needed to relieve the twitch. Surgical options depend on the cause of the twitching and may include the following: Myectomy: A surgical procedure to remove one or more eyelid protractor muscles is used to treat eye twitching due to blepharospasm. Microvascular decompression: A surgical procedure to relieve compression of the facial nerve at its root exit zone is used to treat eye twitching due to hemifacial spasms. When to See a Healthcare Provider Eye twitching that persists should be seen by an ophthalmologist. Eye twitching may be caused by a medical condition such as essential blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm. See your eye doctor if you have any of the following: Eyelid twitching for more than a few weeksSevere eye twitchingThe twitch makes your eyes close all the wayOther muscles in your face begin twitching A Word From Verywell Most eyelid twitches are harmless and tend to go away on their own. Rarely, severe eyelid twitching may signal a more severe disorder. It is always best to seek the advice of an eye doctor. Frequently Asked Questions What should I do if my eye is twitching for weeks? If your eye has been twitching for multiple weeks, it's time to contact your healthcare provider. This is especially important if the twitching:Makes your eye closeAffects other areas of your faceMakes your upper eyelid droopAccompanies a discharge, redness, and swelling Is eye twitching related to anxiety? It is possible for eye twitching to be related to anxiety. Most people experience a twitch in their eyes or legs, but it can happen anywhere on the body and often resolves itself in a day or two. Following a few specific steps may help ease the eyelid twitch.Get enough sleep. Most people need seven to nine hours of rest every night.Dedicate at least a small portion of your day to relaxing.Engage in regular exercise.Avoid excessive amounts of alcohol and caffeine.If you suspect the medication you take is related to the eye twitch, ask your healthcare provider. 14 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Academy of Ophthalmology. How to Stop Eye Twitching. U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Eyelid twitch. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coping with stress. U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Caffeine. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Eye twitching. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How much sleep do I need? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tips for better sleep. Coles‐Brennan C, Sulley A, Young G. Management of digital eye strain. Clinical and Experimental Optometry. 2018;102(1):18-29. doi:10.1111/cxo.12798 Sheppard AL, Wolffsohn JS. Digital eye strain: prevalence, measurement and amelioration. BMJ Open Ophthalmology. 2018;3(1). doi:10.1136/bmjophth-2018-000146 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Protect your eyes from too much screen time. American Academy of Ophthalmology. What is an eyelid spasm or twitching eyelid? American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). Eye (ocular) allergy. Gervasio KA, Moster ML. Managing eyelid and facial spasms. Rev Opthal. 2020;3:66-70. National Health Service (NHS). Twitching Eyes and Muscles. By Troy Bedinghaus, OD Troy L. Bedinghaus, OD, board-certified optometric physician, owns Lakewood Family Eye Care in Florida. He is an active member of the American Optometric Association. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit