Why Is My Eye Twitching? A Harvard Doctor Shares Surprising Triggers and Easy Remedies
Everything from artificial sweeteners to dehydration may be to blame
Though eyelid twitching (technically called myokymia) can feel disconcerting, the good news is that it’s typically fleeting and harmless. Nevertheless, when you’re in the throes of the mini muscle spasms, it’s hard to think of much else besides, “Why is my eye twitching?” Here’s everything you need to know about what’s causing your eyelid to suddenly have a mind of its own—and simple, soothing strategies to help you ditch the twitch.
What actually happens when your eye is twitching?
“Eyelid twitching is a very common issue patients come into the office with,” reveals Alice C. Lorch, MD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and comprehensive ophthalmologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. “People typically ask me three questions: ‘What causes it? What can I do about it? and When do I need to worry?’” (Spoiler alert on that last question: very rarely! More on that below).
Woman's World Answers
Let’s start with the first question: Eyelid twitching is caused when small muscle fibers in the eyelid spontaneously contract. These muscles are particularly sensitive to stress, fatigue, alcohol, caffeine and dehydration, reveals Dr. Lorch. That last culprit is a biggie. She explains that just as athletes sometimes develop cramps if they’re not getting enough fluids, dehydration makes eye muscles more prone to spasming.
“I always start by asking patients if they’re hydrating enough and if they may need to cut back on caffeine, a stimulant that can cause muscle contractions,” she says. Addressing these two common triggers is typically enough to stop the tiny tremors.
7 reasons your eye is twitching
If your twitch proves tenacious, keep reading for other potential causes—and easy remedies.
1. Certain medications
“Medications whose side effects include light sensitivity—like some drugs used to treat allergies, the heart or the gut—may cause eye twitching because they all circulate through the eye,” says ophthalmologist Robert Abel, Jr., MD, author of The Eye Care Revolution: Prevent and Reverse Common Vision Problems. Some antipsychotics and anticonvulsants can also spur the spasms, adds Dr. Lorch. If you suspect your medication could be causing your eye to twitch, talk to your doctor about seeing if there’s an alternative that might work without triggering this side effect.
2. Artificial sweeteners
The modern American diet rears its unhealthy head once again: Artificial sweeteners like aspartame may interrupt neurotransmitters in the brain, triggering the tiny eyelid tremors, explains Dr. Abel. To determine if artificial sweeteners are to blame, try eliminating them from your diet temporarily to see if the twitching stops. If it does, scale back (or eliminate, if you can) your artificial sugar intake to keep eye twitching at bay.
3. Low potassium levels
An electrolyte imbalance may also be to blame. Dr. Lorch recommends taking a multivitamin to ensure you’re getting enough electrolytes like potassium, a key mineral that supports nerve and muscle function.
4. Rubbing your eyes
Doing so may squeeze out oils from sebaceous glands in the eyelid. “These oils are inflammatory and can sometimes cause the eye to twitch,” says Dr. Abel. He adds that rosacea may also lead to oily, irritated eyelids. If you find yourself frequently rubbing your eyes, addressing the underlying culprit (such as allergies, for example) will help nix the need to rub and clear up eye twitching in the process.
5. Dry eye
No surprise, the blue light from our devices is leading to soaring rates of eye strain and dry eye, which may also cause eye twitching. Plus declining estrogen levels as we get older worsens the condition. While Visine gets the red out, it doesn’t alleviate dry eye. For that, Dr. Abel recommends Blink NutriTears. “It comes in three different formulations—thin, medium and thick—so you can find which one works best for you.”
Another simple way to soothe dry, weary peepers is to dip a cloth in a bit of warm water and place it over your eyes, advises Dr. Lorch. The heat and gentle pressure from the compress may help stop the twitching.
6. Tension headaches
When you develop a headache, especially if it causes blurry vision, certain nerves may be triggered and lead to spasming in your eyelid, notes Dr. Abel. His soothing remedy: Massage the back of your neck with a lacrosse ball or tennis ball to help loosen knotted muscles and tame the twitching. To do: Simply lie down and place the ball at the base of your skull, and gently roll up and down to work out any pain-triggering kinks.
7. Vision problems
If you’re having trouble seeing, you may have what’s called refractive error, which can cause your eyelid to spasm as your eyes struggle to focus. “It’s like eye fatigue, the main cause of eye twitching,” he says. You probably guessed the simple fix for this potential trigger: Make an appointment for an eye exam to help you determine if you need new eyeglasses.
When to worry about eye twitching
The short answer is very rarely. Still, it’s important to see an ophthalmologist to rule out more serious conditions. “If eye twitching doesn’t go away within a couple of weeks, if you have difficulty opening your eye or have redness of the eye or eyelid, this could indicate something going on with the eyeball,” says Dr. Lorch.
Twitching in both eyes
Known as benign essential blepharospasm, this is a rare neurological condition. While it won’t resolve itself with “conservative interventions,” the good news is that it is indeed benign and treatable, notes Dr. Lorch. If it goes on for several months, chronic eye twitching may be treated with injections of botulinum toxin (botox), which blocks the nerves causing the twitch. But this is rarely required.
“The reason we pay close attention to benign essential blepharospasm is because it can be confused with a hemifacial spasm, muscle contractions of the eyelid and cheek on one side of the face. This may indicate something pressing on the facial nerve—but it’s extremely rare,” says Dr. Lorch.
In the end, your eyelid twitch will likely be resolved by the good old-fashioned remedies of resting weary eyes, hydrating and laying off the java.
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