What Are Eyelid Twitches?

Eyelid twitches, also known as myokymia, are repetitive, involuntary spasms of the eyelid muscles. They can occur in the upper or lower eyelid. They typically last a few seconds to several minutes.

Sometimes you can see the muscle contracting and sometimes it is just a sensation.

Eyelid twitching often comes and goes. It can happen several times in a day or week, and then stop for weeks or months.

The twitches are painless and harmless, but the can be annoying. Most spasms will resolve on their own without the need for treatment.

In rare cases, eyelid spasms may be an early warning sign of a chronic movement disorder, especially if the spasms are accompanied by other facial twitches or uncontrollable movements. These cases need further evaluation by a doctor.

What Causes Eyelid twitches?

Typically the twitching comes and goes without any identifiable cause. If the twitch lasts for more than one month, spasms occur in other facial muscles, the eyelid droops or the eyes don’t close completely then you should be seen by a doctor for evaluation.

Usually the cause is not specifically identified, but eyelid twitching can be made worse by:

• eye irritation or dry eyes.
• eyelid strain.
• fatigue.
• lack of sleep.
• physical exertion.
• medication side effects.
• stress.
• use of alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine.

How are eyelid twitches treated?

Most eyelid spasms go away without treatment in a few days or weeks. If they don’t go away, you can try to eliminate some of the potential causes. The most common causes of eyelid twitching are stress, fatigue, and caffeine.

Home remedies include:

• Drink less caffeine.
• Get adequate sleep.
• Keep your eye surfaces lubricated with over-the-counter artificial tears or eye drops.
• Apply a warm compress to your eyes when a spasm begins.

A neuromodulator (Botox, Xeomin, Dysport) is often used to treat eyelid twitches. The injections stop the spasms for a few months. Typically enough time for the spasm to resolve on its own.

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