How to Stop Your Eyelid Twitching and the Main Reasons Behind It
- posted: Sep. 29, 2021
All of a sudden, your eyelid twitches…
Then you notice it again.
And again!
You can’t help but wonder, “why?” If you deal with this annoying issue regularly, you want to get to the bottom of it. You’re in luck! Our Phoenix optometrist is ready to answer all your eye-related questions. He founded Eye On Health in Arizona to support you in seeing and feeling your best in our beautiful state.
We get questions about this common (and irritating) problem a lot in our office. When you’re trying to go about your day, the last thing you want to think about is your eyelid suddenly freaking out. Today, we’re going to go over why your eyelid twitches, the common offenders, and what you can do to fix it. Let’s get started!
What’s Causing Your Eyelid to Twitch?
This eye annoyance usually goes away on its own and doesn’t significantly impact your vision. That’s the good news.
The bad news? Since it usually resolves itself quickly, the eyecare world hasn’t heavily researched it.
For this reason, the list of potential causes of eyelid twitching is vast. But, we can share insight on the most common reasons it happens.
Why you’re most likely experiencing eyelid twitching [1]:
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Caffeine
- Eye irritation
- Smoking
- Alcohol
Looking at this list, you’d think everyone’s eyes should be twitching!
Who doesn’t have stress right now?
Who only has one cup of coffee?
Who isn’t tired?
The point is, many things contribute to eyelid twitching, and Eye On Health is here to help you get relief. It’s about finding out what makes you twitch. (See what we did there?)
What’s actually causing this annoying eyelid flutter? Random muscle spasms.
Yep, that twitch is simply your eyelid muscles in both upper and lower lids on the fritz. This involuntary movement means you have no conscious control over it. (That’s why you feel so helpless when it happens!)
The spasms can last for several minutes or linger for days. [2] In the end, intervention often isn’t needed. But if you’re struggling, we’re still going to give you some tips to help it stop. (Keep reading!)
In very rare circumstances, medical experts link eyelid twitching to other serious medical conditions, like Parkinson’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis. But you’d also experience serious symptoms involving muscle and nerve-related issues. (So don’t panic, okay?)
Let’s dive into the most common causes of eyelid twitching — and help you find relief!
3 Simple Ways to Stop Your Eyelid from Twitching
If you’re on day four of eyelid twitching, you’re ready to pull out all the tricks. We totally get it. The interruptions in your day are frustrating, and you just want it to stop! Try these tips to get on your way to serious relief.
Sleep More
Did you ever think your eye doctor would tell you to get more sleep? Probably not, but Dr. Balocca understands that your overall health affects your eye health. And we all know that sleep is good for the entire body.
When you’re overly tired, your body suffers. Whether it’s brain fog or pesky eyelid twitching, your body doesn’t function well without adequate sleep. Sleep is your body’s time to rest and restore from the long day. If you continue to drain your body, it can lead to eyelid twitching among other more serious problems.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), adults age 18 and older should get at least 7 hours of sleep. [3] Either go to bed early or take a nap to help your body relax — eye doctor’s orders!
Reduce Your Stress
We won’t beat around the bush. We’re all feeling more stressed right now. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, and with new variants on the rise, life is stressful for everyone.
Add this to the challenges of daily life and dramatic shifts from routine (like kids back to school or a new job), and you’ve got a nice tall glass of stress.
Find ways you truly relax during this intense time. Explore how unwinding helps your mind and body. Go for a walk, listen to music, read your favorite book, or binge your favorite tv show you’ve seen 10 times already — but still love.
Practicing good stress relief habits won’t just be useful to stop your eyelid twitching or with the current state of the world. You’ll always be able to use these tools for whatever life throws at you in the future.
Reduce Your Daily Caffeine
We know — caffeine may be your lifeline to get through the day. But caffeine consumption may be why your eyelid twitches. Don’t worry — you don’t have to cut it out completely. Just limiting your caffeine intake can drastically improve those frustrating spasms.
If you normally drink 4-5 cups of coffee a day (hey, we don’t judge!) — maybe try 3 instead, and see if it helps. Or try switching that afternoon soda for water, or that last cup of joe for hot green tea or iced tea. Make it easier on yourself by adjusting to small, manageable changes.
If you’re getting enough rest and not necessarily stressed, caffeine is likely your culprit. Lessening your caffeine intake might be all it takes to fix that annoying twitch.
Get All Your Questions Answered At Eye On Health
If these tips don’t solve your eyelid twitching and it’s still bothering you, come see Dr. Balocca. He loves providing exceptional care to his patients — from performing your diabetic eye exam, to giving you more suggestions to stop those pesky muscle spasms.
Located in Phoenix, Eye On Health isn’t too far from the neighboring cities of Verrado and Buckeye. As a reputable local optometrist, you have someone you can trust with all your eye and vision-related needs close by. When it comes to your eye health, we’re ready to help.
Call Us at Eye on Health (480-809-0550) or schedule your appointment today!
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Our Location
Estrella Medical Plaza
9305 W. Thomas Rd. Ste. 455
Phoenix, AZ 85037