we’ve all felt a muscle spasm from time to time. maybe it’s a twitchy finger, maybe it’s a painful spasm in the back of your leg in the night. but what about when it’s your eyelid?
eyelid twitching is quite common, and almost always benign, temporary and rarely a cause for concern.
what causes eyelid twitching?
according to the
cleveland clinic
, irritation or dryness of the eyes, a lack of sleep, high levels of stress and too much caffeine are some of the main causes of a jumpy eyelid. this is sometimes referred to as
eyelid myokymia
.
use of alcohol or tobacco, eyelid strain, physical exertion and side effects from medication can also either make your eyelid twitch
or make the twitching worse
. when the eyelid twitching is caused by these external factors, it almost always goes away on its own and does not require medical attention.
however, there are also a couple different medical conditions that could cause eyelid twitching.
benign essential blepharospasm
is a rare neurological condition in which the affected person experiences abnormal blinking or eyelid twitching. the spasms are intermittent with this condition, and symptoms usually begin later in life.
benign essential blepharospasm may begin in one eye, but the symptoms usually progress to the point of affecting both eyes. in some cases, individuals may find it hard to keep their eyes open as the condition progresses and it can lead to vision impairment.
benign essential blepharospasm is a
type of dystonia
— a group of movement disorders — and it can spread to other parts of a patient’s facial muscles and affect their tongue and jaw.
the cause of benign essential blepharospasm
is unknown.
2 minute read
