It may feel uncomfortable when all of a sudden, your eye starts to twitch but what causes eye twitching, or myokymia? Here are some of the possible reasons and how to reduce your risk of developing it again.
Stress And Fatigue
If your eyelid starts to act weird while you’re on the verge of beating a work deadline, it is highly likely that the cause is stress and is normal. Stress can trigger the release of chemicals, such as adrenaline and cortisol, that can trigger the body’s fight or flight response. This, in turn, can cause the muscles to be more sensitive and irritable than normal.
Eye twitching may also happen if you are very tired and your sympathetic nervous system, which plays an important role in your body’s involuntary activity, kicks into high gear. Eye experts note that eye twitching seems to get more worse the more fatigued a person is. An easy way to resolve this is to get more rest and sleep.
Eyelid Infection
Eye experts say that one possible reason behind eye twitching is an eyelid infection. Eyelid inflammation that is often due to a condition known as blepharitis, is a big cause of eye twitching. Blepharitis occurs when bacteria gets into the eyelids, where it causes inflammation and redness that can make your eyelid muscles twitch. For those suffering from blepharitis, experts recommend placing a washcloth wetted with hot water over the eye for a few minutes several times a day to stop the twitching.
Too Much Caffeine And Chocolate
What you eat can have impact on your body and certain food and drinks are known to cause the eyelid to spasm. Caffeine and chocolate, in particular, can cause hyperactivity of the nerves and muscles around the eyelid, which can lead to eyelid twitching. Ophthalmologists claim seeing more cases of benign eyelid twitching right after Valentine’s Day, as a result of people eating too much chocolate.
Although most cases of eyelid twitching do not need to be evaluated by a doctor, you should contact an eye expert if the spasms worsen, include one side of your face, or the spasming causes your eyelids to close involuntarily. These symptoms could be signs of corneal abrasion, or worse, a neurological condition. Contact or visit us at See Island Eyecare to get expert advice on any eye condition that you have.