Eye Twitching: Causes and Treatment

How to stop eye twitching depends on the cause and how severe it is. You can stop most eye twitching by:

• Lowering stress
• Taking in less caffeine
• Getting plenty of sleep
• Taking frequent screen breaks
• Applying a warm compress
• Gently massaging the eyelid

If those approaches don't work, you may want to talk to your healthcare provider about whether your eye twitching has a medical cause, such as a medication side effect or medical condition.

This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatments for an eye twitch plus when you should get medical attention.

Symptoms

A minor eye twitch is an uncontrollable eyelid spasm that may come and go for a few days, then disappear on its own.

A severe eye twitch lasts much longer and usually does not go away. The eyelid may contract so forcefully that the entire eye completely opens and closes, over and over again.

A severe eye twitch becomes extremely annoying, interfering with daily life.

Causes

Sometimes, an eye twitch has a simple cause. However, it could be caused by something more serious that requires medical evaluation.

Minor Eyelid Twitch Causes

Minor eyelid twitches can have a variety of causes, including:

• Stress or anxiety
• Caffeine
• Some medications
• Smoking cigarettes
• Drinking alcohol
• Fatigue
• Allergies
• Dry eye
• Eyestrain
• Poor nutrition
• Vision problems (such as uncorrected refractive errors)

This kind of twitch is called eyelid myokymia. It happens only on one side and isn't caused by illness.

Serious Causes of Eyelid Twitching

More severe eye twitches are usually associated with:

• Blepharospasm: This occurs when your brain can't properly control your eyelid muscles; it affects both eyes and can become chronic and severe.
• Hemifacial spasm: This neuromuscular disorder involves spasms on one side of your face.

Treatment

The first step in treating an eye twitch is to identify what is causing it. Determine the severity of the twitch: Is it minor or severe?

Treatment for Minor Eye Twitches

To treat minor eye twitches:

• Try to eliminate stress in your daily life.
• Limit caffeine.
• Get plenty of sleep and take frequent breaks from the computer.
• Apply warm compresses to the twitching eye and gently massage the eyelid with your fingers.
• Try over-the-counter oral or topical (eye drop) antihistamines to slow eyelid muscle contractions.

Treatment for Severe Eye Twitches

Treatment for severe eye twitching may include:

• Botox injections to paralyze the eye muscles
• Medications to relax the muscles
• Surgery to remove the contributing eye muscles

Your treatment will depend on not just the severity, but the specific cause.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

See your eye doctor if you have:

• Eyelid twitching for more than a few weeks
• Severe eye twitching
• The twitch makes your eyes close all the way
• Other 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.