Eye Twitching - What Does it Mean

Eye twitching, also known as eye spasm, eyelid spasm, or eye muscle twitch is characterized by the involuntary contraction of the muscles around the eyelids, which further results in blinking of the eyes. Eye spasm, once in a blue moon, is usually harmless, and does not cause any disturbance to the vision of the individual. However, often occurrences can be a sign of serious eye problems.

You can reduce eye twitching with the help of the following measures...

Washing Eyes: Flushing your eyes with cold water will help release the stress on the eye muscles, and can therefore reduce the intensity of eye twitching.

Eye Drops: There are many eye care drops specially prepared to cure the problem of eye spasm. However, see that you follow the correct dosage to avoid any side effects.

Medicines and Drugs: Some doctors prescribe the oral intake of certain anti-epileptic drugs and tranquilizers to cure eye muscle twitching. However, these prove to be a temporary type of treatment, and over a period of time you once again start experiencing the same trouble.

Myectomy: This is a surgery-based remedy for eye twitching, and is undergone only in extreme cases when the eye spasm becomes regular and does not stop with home-based or any other type of treatment. Myectomy cures eye twitching by removing some nerves and muscles from the eyelids with the help of an eyelid crease and a brow.

There are several reasons behind eye twitching. They range from your lifestyle to your eating habits. The main reasons are:

Insufficient Rest: The most common reason behind eye muscle twitching is insufficient sleep. The eye muscles cannot relax as needed if you do not sleep properly, and therefore you may suffer from eye twitching for the whole day.

Caffeine Intake: Another potential reason for eye muscle twitching is the excessive intake of caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant and it affects the central nervous system. An attack on the central nervous system can in turn affect any part of the body, and the eyes are no exception.

Eye Allergies: Your eyes can develop allergies towards dust and pollution if they are constantly subjected to these elements. The eyes tend to weaken and therefore twitching might occur.

Stress on Eyes: Prolonged exposure to television, computer, strong lights while driving in the night, etc., can stress your eye muscles, and therefore lead to eye twitching.

Other Causes: Some other common causes of eye spasm include:

• Vitamin deficiency
• Neurological disorders such as basal ganglia
• Fatigue
• Withdrawal of psychoactive drugs such as benzodiazepine

Eye twitching is not just confined to an eye disorder. There are many superstitions behind it. Some people feel that eye spasm is lucky, while some take it the other way round. In some countries, it is believed that eye muscle twitching can be lucky or unlucky depending upon the person's gender and the side of the face that is experiencing the blinking.

Although eye twitching is not a serious problem, you need to cure it if it does not stop, as regular occurrences can lead to eye problems in the future. Also remember to consult an eye specialist before going in for any treatment to cure the eye twitching, as the eyes are a very delicate part of our body.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.