Developing an eye twitch out of the blue can be perplexing, not to mention very annoying. In most cases, however, eye twitching is a harmless condition that goes a way with time. Small twitches or fasciculations of the upper or lower eyelid need to be distinguished from eye tics, as they only involve a few muscle fiber bundles as apposed to tics which involve whole muscles.

These fasciculations may feel very noticeable, but in most cases they can barely be seen. More serious eye twitching is usually classified as eye tics and in some cases these can become so severe that it affects visual functioning and may disrupt other aspects of daily life.

What Causes Eye Twitching?

• Stress
• Tiredness
• Eyestrain
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Dry eyes
• Nutritional imbalances
• Allergies

Eye Twitching Facts:

Generally, twitching eye comes and goes, and there are instance when it can last for several weeks or months, however, eye twitch is considered benign in almost all cases. Even if the condition is not a serious one, you may not be able to find remedies to stop eye twitching unless you have not figured out what really causes it.

The more serious yet less common forms of eye twitching include hemifacial spasm or blepharospasm which is of neurological origin. An eye doctor should be consulted in this case being the proper practitioner to diagnose and treat the condition.

How to Stop an Eye Twitching:

• Get some rest to relax the body. Overworked eye muscles and an overtired body can cause the eyes to twitch. Get a full eight hours of sleep at night. Take 15-minute breaks every two hours throughout the day from reading, working on the computer, watching television or any other eye intensive activity. When twitching acts up, go into a dark or dimly lit room to give the eyes a chance to rest.
• Use over-the-counter saline eye drops whenever your eyes feel dry. Apply the eye drops three times a day or as directed on the label.
• Eliminate caffeine from your diet. Caffeine can cause eye twitching. Cut out caffeinated sodas, caffeinated coffee and chocolate from your diet.
• Reduce stress. Stress brings on eye twitching in some people. If stress seems to be the cause of twitching, practice relaxation techniques to calm yourself. Deep breathing, prayer, listening to classical music and counseling are examples of techniques you can use to reduce stress.
• See a doctor if the eye twitching causes your eyelids to fully close or if the twitching lasts for longer than a week. Medical treatments that a doctor may prescribe for the treatment of eye twitching include botox injections to temporarily paralyze the muscles that are twitching or medications to calm the muscles. Common medications prescribed for eye twitching are muscle relaxants or anti-seizure medications. In rare cases where eye twitching does not go away on its own or does not respond to treatment, a surgery can be performed to cut and immobilize the muscles responsible for the twitching.

Eye Twitching Treatments:

Eye twitching usually goes away after a few seconds and can persist in the next few days or weeks. It is very rare when the eye twitches continuously and don’t go away. In this case, Botox injections would be one of the best procedures to stop eye twitching which can successfully treat the involuntary eye spasm because the procedure helps stop the muscle contractions.

Sometimes, it can be caused by anxiety especially when put in an uncomfortable situation wherein the more you get nervous, the more the eye twitch. The body is so remarkable that it is capable of doing so many unusual and extraordinary things, and eye twitching can be just a sign that you have to relax and take things easy. To this day, there is no particular cure for eye twitching although there are several treatment options that are available.