Eyelid twitching is usually a sign of excess stress, a lack of sleep or a vitamin deficiency. However, it can also be a sign of a more serious health condition, such as vision problems, dry eyes or nervous system changes.
Depending on the underlying cause, eyelid twitching can present with other symptoms like burning eyes, tired eyes and itching. It is not to be confused with eye twitching, which is also referred to as nystagmus.
It is common for the eyelids to twitch for a few minutes or hours, but twitching that lasts for days or weeks to resolve should be assessed by an ophthalmologist for treatment.
Why is my eyelid twitching?
The main causes of eyelid twitching are:
1. Excessive stress
Stress can trigger several changes in the body, especially in way your muscles function, due to the action of hormones that are released.
Smaller muscles, such as those in the eyelids, may undergo the most notable changes, leading to involuntary movements.
What to do: if you are going through a period of greater stress, you should try to engage in relaxing activities such as going out with friends, watching a movie or taking yoga classes. This can help balance hormone production and manage tremors.
2. Lack of sleep
When you get less than 7 or 8 hours of sleep at night, your eye muscles can become tired, as they are forced to work for several hours at a time without rest. Lack of rest also increases the release of stress hormones, leading to increased eyelid switching
What to do: it is recommended to sleep at least 7 hours each night, and to create a calm and relaxing environment to allow for a more restful sleep.
3. Vitamin deficiency or dehydration
A lack of some essential vitamins, such as vitamin B12, or minerals, such as potassium or magnesium, can cause involuntary spasms of the muscles, which can affect the eyelids. Furthermore, not drinking enough water can also lead to dehydration, which weakens the muscles and can cause twitching.
It is also worth remembering that people over 65 years of age or who follow a vegetarian diet are more likely to lack some essential vitamins, and may experience tremors more frequently.
What to do: Be sure to increase your intake of foods with vitamin B, such as fish, meat, eggs or dairy products, and to drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day.
4. Vision problems
Vision problems can cause symptoms such as burning, eye fatigue and eyelid twitching. This happens as a result of over-compensation with the eyes working excessively, the eyelids also become more tired than usual.
What to do: if you are having difficulty reading some letters or seeing at a distance, for example, it is advisable to see an ophthalmologist to identify whether your vision is impaired and requires interventions.
People who wear glasses should see an ophthalmologist every 2 years to ensure their prescription remains effective.
5. Dry eyes
After the age of 50, dry eyes is a very common problem that can lead to involuntary tremors that are triggered as an automatic reflex to hydrate the eye.
However, other factors can also contribute to dry eyes, like prolonged screen time, wearing contacts or taking antihistamines.
What to do: You should use moisturizing eye drops throughout the day to try to keep your eyes well-hydrated. Furthermore, it is important to rest your eyes after every 1 to 2 hours of screen time, and to avoid wearing contact lenses for more than 8 hours at a time.
6. Consuming coffee or energy drinks
Excessive consumption of coffee and energy drinks can increase the chances of eyelid twitching, as the body becomes more alert and the nervous system becomes more stimulated.
What to do: If you experience eyelid twitching frequently, you should reduce your daily intake of of coffee and energy drinks, and increase your water intake.
7. Allergies
People who suffer from allergies may experience various symptoms related to their eyes, such as redness, itching or excessive tear production, for example. However, when scratching your eyes, a substance known as histamine, which is produced in the face of a triggering allergen, can reach the eyelids, causing twitching.
What to do: This eyelid twitching can be treated with antihistamines as prescribed by your family doctor or allergist, as well as avoiding the triggering substance when possible.
8. Use of medications
Some medications used to treat emphysema, asthma and epilepsy, such as theophylline, beta-adrenergic agonists, corticosteroids and valproate, can cause eyelid twitching as a side effect.
What to do: Inform your prescribing doctor of any side effects you are experiencing, including eyelid twitching, to assess the necessity or benefit of making any changes to the dose used or even swapping the medication for another.
9. Nervous system abnormalities
Blepharospasm is an abnormality in the nervous system that can cause tremors in the eyelids of both eyes and produce repetitive eyelid movement.
This change can affect just one of the eyes, when a blood vessel compresses the facial nerve, and causes a tremor known as hemifacial spasm. It can also end up affecting the facial muscles.
What to do: You are advised to consult an ophthalmologist or a neurologist if your eyelid twitching is also accompanied by changes to your facial muscles to determine whether a nervous system anomaly is occurring.
When to see a doctor
In most cases, eyelid twitching is not a sign of a health condition. However, you are advised to consult a doctor when:
- Other symptoms appear, such as redness of the eye or swelling of the eyelid;
- The eyelid is more droopy than normal;
- Twitching occurs frequently;
- The twitching affects other parts of the face.
The ophthalmologist is the most suitable specialist to evaluate eyelid twitching, and can carry out vision tests and other more specific evaluations.
If necessary, the ophthalmologist can refer you to other specialists, such as a neurologist or allergist, depending on the changes identified in the examination.