Eye Twitching - causes, symptoms and treatment
Common causes of eye twitching
Most of us have
experienced it; after a long day of working at the
computer or hitting the books, one eye or the other
starts to twitch. What causes annoying eye twitching,
and what can you do about it?
The vast
majority of twitches are caused by a minor spasm in the
muscles of the eyelid. Like most spasms, they are
caused by muscle fatigue. Fatigue in the muscles around
the eyelid can be caused by high levels of stress,
sleepiness, bright lights, squinting for long periods of
time, and eye strain from reading in dim light or
looking at a computer screen for long periods of time.
In rare cases,
twitches in the eye can be caused by physical,
psychological, or neurological problems, such as
epilepsy or Tourette’s syndrome.
Treatment for eye twitching
In order to relax these eye muscles and ease the twitching, you can apply a warm or a cool compress to the affected eyes, take a long, soothing bath to ease stress, or use eye drops. A long nap or a good night’s sleep will often help stop twitching as well.To avoid eye twitches to begin with, take frequent breaks while reading or working at the computer. Use these breaks to look off into the distance to change the focus of your eyes. Ensure that you always have plenty of good light in your work area.
If you suspect that your eye twitches are a result of stress, try taking a brisk walk in your lunch hour, or exercise in place for a few minutes during your reading breaks. Soothing music, stretches in your chair, and aromatherapy are other ways to combat stress while working or studying.
Severe cases can be treated by medication, Botox injections, or even surgery.
Important
If your eye twitches are violent or do not subside in a reasonable period of time, you should discuss this with your doctor.
