Eye twitching occurs when the eyelid moves involuntarily. Eyelid tics and twitches are very common. Most people that experience eye twitching notice that the bottom eyelid is affected more often than their top eyelid, although either can occur. Twitching is generally temporary and can last for hours, days and sometimes even weeks or months.
While most people think of Botox as an injection used for cosmetic purposes, ophthalmologists are interested in the injection’s use as a treatment for eyelid twitching. While most of us experience the annoying sensation caused when our eyelids twitch.
The majority of the time, this twitching is caused by a lack of sleep and/or stress, and it is only temporary. For some, however, eyelid twitching becomes a chronic situation. This type of eyelid spasming is called blepharospasm.
Figuring Out If Botox Injections Are Right For You
Common Reasons Why Eyelids Twitch According to the team at Access Eye, most cases of persistent eyelid twitching are harmless and triggered by stress, fatigue and the consumption of caffeine or alcohol. Other causes of eyelid twitching include eye strain and digital eye strain from the prolonged use of computers, smartphones and tablets. An eye twitch is an involuntary, abnormal blinking of your eyelid. If your eye twitching is frequent, it. To ease the twitching at home, you may want to try the following: Keep your eyes lubricated with eye drops Drinking less caffeine Apply a warm compress (place a warm towel or cloth) to your eyes when an episode begins. This injury is especially caused from intense weightlifting. Benign fasciculations come in all sorts of flavors, shapes and colors, in that they can be occasional, intermittent for a few days or weeks, intermittent for many months, ongoing for a few days, and even ongoing for much longer periods of time.
Eyelid twitching will often resolve on its own with a little TLC. If you experience occasional eyelid twitching that happens on and off or that lasts for a day or two, there is a good chance that you are not getting enough sleep and/or that you are under stress.
Before scheduling an eye appointment, try the following:
- Get extra sleep.Are you getting enough sleep? Are you sleeping well once you fall asleep? Visit sleepfoundation.org’s post, How to Sleep Better, and work towards getting the sleep you need to be well-rested.
- Practice stress management. Are you under stress? As we go to press, we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and families are struggling with all of the ramifications of that, including distance learning and unemployment. There’s never been a better time to take stock and cultivate the steps necessary to manage your stress. Click Here to read stress management tips from positivepsychology.com.
- Minimize or eliminate caffeine.If your spasms are related to a stress response, caffeinated beverages can trigger or exacerbate them. Try to minimize or eliminate caffeine to see if that helps.
- Apply a moist, warm compress.If you have the time and space, apply a warm, moist compress (a clean washcloth, folded into fours, and soaked in warm water is perfect) and hold it gently on your eye(s) for five to ten minutes. Repeat as necessary. You can even work this step into your stress management program!
- Use artificial tears to keep dry eye at bay.There is a correlation between dry eye and eyelid twitching. Using artificial tears a few times a day can help. If you experience continued episodes of dry eye, it is worth a trip to the eye doctor to evaluate the underlying cause.
If your eyelids continue to twitch for a week or more, contact your eye doctor – especially if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Inflamed eyelid(s)
- Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
- Light sensitivity
- Drooping eyelids
Occasional Eye Twitch
Other nerve/brain-related issues (Bell’s palsy, MS, Parkinson’s, various dystonias, Tourette syndrome) can also cause blepharospasm, and these should always be ruled out before proceeding with a course of Botox injections.
There are a few different treatments available to treat chronic eyelid twitching, but Botox injections are the most successful option for patients 12 years old and older.
Is It Necessary To Treat Eyelid Spasms?
Some patients find eyelid twitching intolerable, while others find it to be a minor irritation and ask whether they have to treat their spasms at all. We always recommend treating eyelid spasms because chronic spasming can lead to other complications.
Patients who do not treat long term eyelid twitching risk:
- Involuntary eye closure
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
- Uncontrolled winking and blinking
Patients always have the right to refuse treatment, but we hope that you will schedule an eye appointment and discuss the options at length with your eye care provider before opting to avoid treatment.
Botox Injections Treat Blepharospasm
Botox (botulinum toxin) has been an FDA approved as a prescription medicine since 2002 but has been approved for use to treat uncontrolled muscle spasms since 1989. This means patients can feel confident in the 30+ years of safety that backs this treatment option.
When injected into specific muscles, Botox stops them from contracting – like a relax/cease action solution. In the case of your eyelid(s), we use a very thin needle. This generates a relaxing of the contracted eyelid muscles, and also blocks some of the nerve signaling responsible for the twitching, providing relief from the continuous eyelid muscle spasms. In most cases, patients’ eyelids slow and cease their spasms within a day to a week or so after their injection appointment.
The appointments only take about 10 minutes per eye or less, and they are almost always covered by your health insurance. Once the Botox takes effect, patients typically benefit from three months of spasm-free vision, at which point they are scheduled for another round of injections.
If Botox injections are not sufficient enough to relieve the spams, your ophthalmologist will discuss alternative treatment options with you. These may include prescription medication such as clonazepam, trihexyphenidyl, lorazepam, baclofen, and tetrabenazine. However, these medications can have less desirable to downright serious side effects, which is why Botox injections are always our first choice treatment for blepharospasm.
If neither Botox nor medication is successful, we’ll discuss surgical options which can eliminate the facial muscles or portions of the nerve(s) causing the spasm.
Risks And Complications Of Botox Injections
As with any treatment, there are risks and complications associated with using Botox injections. This is one of the reasons you should be very careful when selecting your ophthalmologist. You should work with someone who knows exactly what s/he’s doing, taking the time to review your symptoms, potential causes, and your medical history to ensure this is the right first-step for you.
Some of the risks and complications associated with Botox injections include:
- Problems swallowing, breathing or speaking. This is incredibly rare, and has typically affected those who have had issues with swallowing, breathing, or speaking in the past. This rare side effect occurs when botox affects muscles besides those in the eyelids.
- Spread of toxin effects. Again, there is a risk with Botox that the botulism toxin that works on the affected eyelids can potentially migrate or spread to other muscles and nerves, creating a “spread-of-toxin” effect.
To date, NONE OF THE ABOVE SIDE EFFECTS have ever been associated with patients using botox to treat eyelid twitching. They have only been reported in patients using Botox for cosmetic purposes.
The ophthalmologists and optometrists here at the Atlantic Eye Institute perform a thorough screening and medical health evaluation, which includes a review of the ingredients found in Botox to avoid an allergic reaction.
While muscle spasms are common, thanks to all the household chores, eye spasms are lesser known about, especially in a medical context. Have you had the occasional eye twitching and found yourself wondering about its significance? More often than not, Indians tend to relate the twitching eye with a superstitious tale. The right eye twitching is often taken as the sign of good fortune while the left eye twitching indicates that something ominous is about to happen. However, the truth cannot be further than that!
Popular Superstitions around the World
Several popular superstitions are surrounding the occasional twitching eye. In Africa, a twitching eye has heavy significance. Natives, especially from Cameroon and Nigeria, believe that the left eye twitching is a symbol of bad fortune. The Chinese however, believe otherwise. According to Chinese superstitions, the left eye twitching indicates good luck while the right eye twitching is a symbol of bad luck.
These are based on Mandarin, one of the major regional Chinese languages. In Mandarin, the word for the left has a close resemblance to the word for money which indicates wealth. Hence, twitching of the left eye is taken as a sign of good fortune while right in Mandarin closely resembles disaster. Thus, the right eye twitching is believed to be an omen for tumultuous times ahead!
Occasional Eye Twitching Causes
In Hawaii, the twitching of the left eye can either indicate the arrival of a stranger or a death in the family. The superstition states that a twitching right eye can signify the birth of a child in the near future.
Indians have several superstitions when it comes to eye twitching. Here, the significance of a twitching eye depends on whether you are a man or a woman. The twitching right eye is considered to be good luck for men and bad luck for women. For women, it’s just the opposite. A twitching left eye is supposed to bring good luck! But, that’s not all. There are also superstitions based on which area of your eye is twitching. According to these, if the lower eyelid is twitching, it probably means that you are about to splurge money. The twitching of the pupil is considered a symbol of generous luck while the twitching of the upper area of your eye indicates that fortune is on your way.
These superstitions may come across as interesting but the scientific reasoning behind the twitching eye is much more humble!
What is an Eye Twitch and Why does it happen?
Eye twitching is a common eye condition that involves involuntary muscular contraction of the eyelid. It may occur anytime when you are in a meeting, or in the car driving, or even when you are just relaxing on the bed. It typically happens in the lower eyelid and is usually not a serious condition. However, if it happens frequently, it might indicate the onset of a neurological condition. It’s always advisable to check with a doctor if that persists.
The general eye twitching can be caused by a number of factors. These include stress, high caffeine intake, lack of sleep and allergies. Though these are not actually pre-conditions for the twitching eye, people who fit these bills may experience the twitch more as compared to the next person.
If you have experienced a lack of sleep recently, it may lead to eye spasms. Fatigue and tiredness are also common causes for the twitching eye. A study conducted by Mayo Clinic also indicated the same. Several experts have also related the lack of nutrients in the body with muscle spasms. If you are fatigued, chances are that your muscles are not procuring adequate nutrients. Low reserves of essential Vitamin D or magnesium in the body often come in the way of muscle relaxation, which may cause them to twitch or spasm.
Staring at your smartphone or laptop screen continuously can also lead to eye spasms. So, if you feel your right eye twitching after finishing an entire season in a day, it’s probably due to digital stress. It’s smart to take breaks in between your binge sessions, advisably every 20 minutes. Try to keep your eyes closed for 3-5 minutes at least to provide your eyes with the needed respite.
Interestingly, excessive alcohol consumption can also cause the eyes to twitch. A study conducted by the Hallym University College of Medicine threw light on the connection of alcohol consumption with dry eye syndrome. The study suggested that excessive alcohol intake increases the traits of dry eyes which may enhance the occurrence of eye twitches. Having a glassful of water in between your shots can really help the cause while improving your overall eye health!
The Treatment for Eye Twitching
What Would Make Your Eye Twitch
These minor eye twitches generally don’t demand medical diagnosis or supervision. However, there is a more violent variant, which also includes a facial spasm affecting your ability to eat or talk. Known as the hemifacial spasm, this violent eye spasm accompanied by other serious symptoms is caused by inflammation of facial nerves. It may also be a resultant of a serious neurological disorder. If you are experiencing this type of eye twitching, call your doctor immediately for assistance. The doctor will then conduct a comprehensive eye exam and determine the necessary steps. But don’t worry- a twitching eye is generally not a serious medical condition.