Three Little-Known Causes of Eye Twitching

Ophthalmologist Dr. Emel Çolakoğlu explained 3 lesser-known important causes of eye twitching and offered important warnings and recommendations.

Eye twitching, often seen as a harmless condition caused by stress, fatigue, and insomnia, can in some cases signal an important message from the body. Eye twitching, which typically lasts from a few seconds to several minutes but in some cases can persist intermittently for days, can be triggered by many factors.

Dr. Emel Çolakoğlu, Ophthalmologist at Acıbadem Bakırköy Hospital, states: "Eye twitching, whose medical name is 'myokymia,' occurs due to involuntary repetitive contractions (spasm) of the muscles that move the eyelids. Sometimes it is noticeable to others, sometimes only the person themselves feels it. Patients express their complaints with statements such as 'my eyes are trembling' or 'it seems like the person across is thinking I winked at them.' Because eye twitching is often associated with meanings such as 'a visitor will come' in our society, this superstition can cause delays in seeking medical care and consequently in treatment."

• Incorrect lifestyle habits
Incorrect lifestyle habits play a major role among the causes of eye twitching. Alcohol and tobacco use, excessive caffeine consumption (tea, coffee, energy drinks, etc.), insufficient sleep, staring at computer or phone screens for long periods without breaks, and unhealthy diet represent only some of these incorrect habits. On the other hand, inability to manage stress and being under constant excessive stress emerge as one of the primary factors in eye twitching.

• Hidden astigmatism
Twitching of the right or left eye is not medically significant for diagnosis. Frequent twitching of your eye or eyes can be an indicator of hidden astigmatism, myopia, or hyperopia, so it is advisable to see an eye doctor. If you wear glasses, twitching of your eyes may also indicate that your eye prescription has increased.

• Brain and nervous system disorder
Dr. Emel Çolakoğlu notes that eye twitching, although very rare, can be a symptom of a serious brain or nervous system disorder, stating: "In this case, other symptoms accompany the eye twitching. For example; twitching accompanied by eye watering and mouth drooping can point to facial paralysis, involuntary contractions in legs and feet along with blurred vision to multiple sclerosis, speech disorder and loss of facial expression to Parkinson's disease, involuntary contractions combined with involuntary speech to Tourette Syndrome."

If eye twitching lasts longer than 2 weeks!
Ophthalmologist Dr. Emel Çolakoğlu, noting that it is important to record when and under what conditions eye twitching occurs in order to identify underlying factors, states: "Eye twitching is usually harmless and resolves on its own within a few days, but if it persists longer than 2 weeks, if the eyelid closes, or if it is accompanied by blurred vision or facial spasms, a doctor must be consulted to identify possible causes." Emphasizing that if no serious cause underlies eye twitching but the spasms have become chronic, daily lifestyle habits must be reviewed and improved, Dr. Çolakoğlu notes that botulinum toxin injection is a very frequently used treatment method.