Author - Thu Tran (Optometrist)  

Eye Twitching, its prevention and treatment. 

Eye twitching can be annoying, but in most cases it is harmless and resolves on its own without treatment. For most people these feel like gentle painless tugs to the upper or lower lid which are actually involuntary spasms of the eyelid. They can occur at random times, and can occur on and off for a few days. 

Why is my eyelid twitching?

There are a few factors that may cause or exacerbate eyelid twitching. However, they can also occur without an identifiable cause. 

• Eye strain

• Lack of sleep

• Stress

• Caffeine

• Smoking

• Alcohol

• Dry eyes

• Allergy

What can I do to treat or prevent eye twitching?

Keeping a journal of when your symptoms begin may be able to help identify a possible cause as listed above. Minimising your intake of caffeine, finding ways to manage stress and ensuring adequate hours of sleep can help manage your symptoms. 

When should I see an optometrist? 

In most instances, a twitching eye will only be temporary, and will go away on its own without intervention. 

You should see an optometrist immediately if you experience any of the following:

• Chronic eye twitching for several weeks

• Twitching that causes your eyelids to clamp shut tightly

• Redness, swollen or painful eye

• Drooping eyelid

• If it is affecting other parts of your face

However if you are unsure, and would like your symptoms to be further assessed, our optometrists are fully qualified and happy to further investigate to determine if there is a cause of concern. 

By Thu Tran 

Optometrist at 1001 Optical.