Eyelid twitches are widespread. They happen whether facial muscles around your eyelid contract. This is sometimes called myokymia. Although you may be moving, it does not affect your vision. It’s common for people to have twitches in their eyelids, which can be due to various factors, including stress and fatigue.
TWO TYPES OF EYE TWITCHING
- Essential Blepharospasm is when your eyelids may suddenly close unintentionally. From a few seconds to a few hours, this phenomenon can occur. Initially, it may cause you to blink, wink, or even pinch your face. Eventually, your eyelids will close so tightly you won’t be able to see. These facial muscle spasms can also affect other muscles in your face. Doing things like climbing stairs or driving a car may be difficult for those with limited mobility.
- The Hemifacial Spasm occurs when the muscles on one side of the face tighten. These facial spasms may begin near your eyes and spread to other parts of your face. In more advanced cases, a hemifacial spasm can last from a few days to a few months. When a blood vessel is pressing on a facial nerve, hemifacial spasms are likely to develop.
WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN MY EYE TWITCHES?
No one knows exactly why people’s eyes begin to twitch, but various factors, including stress, eye strain, certain drugs and medications, dry eyes and insufficient sleep, can contribute to the condition.
Mild eye twitching is self-limiting, meaning it will go away on its own after a while. Doing the following will help expedite the process: You can begin by getting more sleep, reducing your caffeine and alcohol intake, alleviating stress, exercising, and using artificial tear eye drops to treat dry eyes.
HOW WOULD I KNOW WHEN TO CONTACT AN EYE DOCTOR?
Contact your eye doctor if eye twitching continues for more than a few weeks or if it causes problems opening the eye or seeing. Botulinum toxin injections can be treated with prescription medications or a course of therapy prescribed by your physician. Under the skin around the eyes, a Botulinum toxin injection is administered. Muscle spasm prevention is provided for about three months with each toxin injection, which causes relaxation and weakening of muscles just beneath the skin. Minor bruising, temporary drooping of the eyelids, or temporary double vision are all possible side effects of these injections.
If the botulinum toxin injections fail to control the patient’s symptoms, surgery may be necessary.
If you are experiencing eye twitches and concerns, you can set up an appointment with us. We will provide you with the proper treatment to deal with your eye twitching.
Call us at our Arlington phone number: 817 277 6433 or at our Mansfield phone number: 817 477 0223
