David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Eye twitching
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Oct. 7, 2008
Eye twitching is a slight, involuntary movement of the eyelid every few seconds over the course of a minute or two. Sometimes the spasm is strong enough to make your eyelid close completely before reopening.
Eye twitching can come and go unpredictably for a few days, weeks or months. The spasms don't hurt, but they can be annoying. In its most common form, which is harmless, eye twitching stops on its own, although it may recur occasionally.
Rarely, eye twitching may be the earliest sign of a chronic movement disorder, especially if other facial spasms develop in addition to the eye twitching.
Causes
Anyone can have an eye twitch from time to time in the absence of an identifiable cause, such as a disease or condition. Most often, eyelid spasms are associated with or prolonged by:
Eye twitch usually goes away on its own within a few days or months. Schedule an appointment with your doctor if:
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Oct. 7, 2008
Eye twitching is a slight, involuntary movement of the eyelid every few seconds over the course of a minute or two. Sometimes the spasm is strong enough to make your eyelid close completely before reopening.
Eye twitching can come and go unpredictably for a few days, weeks or months. The spasms don't hurt, but they can be annoying. In its most common form, which is harmless, eye twitching stops on its own, although it may recur occasionally.
Rarely, eye twitching may be the earliest sign of a chronic movement disorder, especially if other facial spasms develop in addition to the eye twitching.
Causes
Anyone can have an eye twitch from time to time in the absence of an identifiable cause, such as a disease or condition. Most often, eyelid spasms are associated with or prolonged by:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Fatigue
- Irritation of the eye surface or inner eyelids
- Lack of sleep
- Physical exertion
- Smoking
- Stress
- Blepharitis
- Dry eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
- Bell's palsy
- Benign essential blepharospasm
- Dystonia
- Parkinsonism: What causes it?
- Side effects of drugs, particularly medications used to treat epilepsy and psychosis
- Spasmodic torticollis (a separate type of dystonia sometimes accompanied by blepharospasm)
- Tourette syndrome
Eye twitch usually goes away on its own within a few days or months. Schedule an appointment with your doctor if:
- The twitching doesn't go away within one to three weeks.
- Your eyelid completely closes with each twitch.
- Twitching happens in other parts of your face as well.
- Your eye is red, swollen or has discharge, or you notice drooping eyelids.