Eye Twitching Explained: What It Means and How to Stop It?
Do you ever notice that your eye is twitching and thinking about why it happens?
Eye twitching, medically is called Myokymia. It is a common condition between us and most of the time it stays harmless, but for some people it can be very annoying. It happens randomly that come and go without noticing. But for some individuals, it may stay long, and they start thinking that maybe this is the sign of something more serious.
This article will explain that what eye twitching is, what are the causes, and how you can stop it. So, let’s start!
What Is Eye Twitching?
When the muscles around the eyes contract we feel eye twitching. it affects the lower eyelid but it can sometimes affect the upper eyelid also. This twitches are quick, repetitive spasms that we can not control. They can stay for a few second, minutes, or even occur off and on for a some days.
Usually, eye twitching is benign, which means it does not have any relation with any serious health condition. But sometimes it happenend because of some underlying issue, which we’ll read later. But before we do that, let’s look at some of the most common causes.
Keep reading…… Eye Twitching Explained: What It Means and How to Stop It?
Common Causes of Eye Twitching
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Stress
Number one reason of the triggers for eye twitching is stress. When you’re stressed your body reacts in different ways and for some people that includes eye twitches. The good news? Reducing your stress levels can help minimize or eliminate the twitching.
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Fatigue
Did you ever notice that the eyes start twitching after few nights of poor sleep? That’s not happen by chance, lack of sleep can easily cause your muscles around the eyes to spasm. Eye twitching is the way of your body says, “I need rest my dear human”
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Coffee and alcohol
Your morning coffee can be a significant part of your life, but more than that, coffee can make your eyes puffy. Alcohol can have only same effect. Both can worsen your situation, as the results include the twitching around your eyes.
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Eye Strain
Most people spend long periods of time staring at screens—whether it’s for work or for fun—pressurizing your eyes becomes increasingly painful. Putting pressure on your eyes, especially staring at screens for long periods of time without any interruption, can cause eye twitching.
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Dry Eyes
An unpleasant feeling is dry eyes which can also irritate. If you have an itchy, irritating or painful abscess in your eyes, you can make yourself bleed by rubbing yourself with more force to make your eyes dry. Excessive use of eye makeup or other impurities can cause temporary twitch.
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Allergy
Allergy of the eyes is another common reason. When your eyes are red, itchy, or sleepy due to allergy, you may get watery eyes more often, as if you have a burning sensation. This burning sensation can also cause twitching.
When Should You Worry About Eye Twitching?
Most cases of eye twitching are frequent, but sometimes it occurs when it may be caused by hard or painful. If you notice some discomfort from the inside of the eye, then it is a good idea to get it checked by a doctor:
Prolonged twitching: If your eye twitching lasts for more than a week or it seems that it does not go away, then it’s time to take it seriously.
Twitching that affects other features of the face: If your eye twitching is accompanied by twitching in other features of your face, then it may be a symptom of Bell’s palsy.
Opening the eye with change vision: If you see double vision, blind eye, or any other change without any symptoms then this can lead to a more serious issue.
Bell’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or dystonia can all be the cause of a condition where pain in the eyes is involved, so if your condition is deep-rooted then it is important to seek medical help.
How to Stop Eye Twitching
So, what can you do if your eye won’t stop twitching? Thankfully, there are several ways to reduce or eliminate eye twitching:
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Reduce stress.
It’s easier to say than practically to do, right? But if stress is the reason for your eye-twitching then finding ways to handle it can make a big difference. To relax, take short breaks during work or even brief short breaks throughout the day can make your muscles relax.
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Get enough sleep.
If you are tired from your stress then getting more sleep is the right solution. Make it a point to get 7-9 hours of tight sleep every night. It may take a long time to fall asleep in stressful condition, but it can improve your health.
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Avoid alcohol.
Alcohol is known to cause eye puffiness, so going back to the diet can help. Try thinking about cutting it or at least try to reduce drinks and alcohol consumption. See if it makes any difference.
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Avoid screens.
If you spend a lot of time looking at screens, be careful and follow the world wide famous 20-20-20 principle. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This can help reduce eye strain and prevent twitching.
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Use eye drops.
If dry eyes are becoming the cause of the problem, then artificial tears eye drops can help in keeping your eyes hydrated and prevent them from twitching. Over-the-counter eye drops are an easy solution.
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Treat Allergies.
If your eye twitching is due to allergies, treating the underlying allergy can help. Antihistamine eye drops or medications can reduce inflammation and irritation, preventing your eyes from twitching.
Prevention Tips
If you want to protect your eyes from twitching, here are some remedies you can do:
- Deal with stress through relaxation techniques.
- Make a regular sleep schedule to avoid fatigue.
- Minimize screen time or wear anti-blue light glasses.
- Stay hydrated and avoid anything more than necessary.
- Take care of your eyes by wearing sun glasses during day time or whenever necessary.
Final Thoughts:
Eye twitching, or situation, is no reason to be worried about it. Often it is a condition where your life is under some kind of tension or can be due to lack of sleep. The good news is that sometimes proper adjustment to life can stop the eye twitching.
On the other hand, if the twitching continues then there can be deeper problem along with it thats why it’s a good idea to consult an eye care professional who can take care of it. But in most of the cases, taking enough rest, maintaining hydration, reducing alcohol intake and taking care of your eyes should be enough to solve the issue.
So next time when your eyes start twitching, just write it down as a small reminder to start taking care of yourself!
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