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.