Good to know
What is behind the annoying twitching of the eye?
Behind eyelid twitching there is usually a harmless cause
© by-studio / Getty Images
Twitch, twitch, twitch: Hardly any body movement is as annoying as the rhythmic twitching of an eyelid. What’s behind it? And what is the best way to solve the problem?
It comes out of nowhere and is mercilessly annoying: a twitching eyelid. The rhythmically recurring mini-spasm can often hardly be seen from the outside, but it can feel very uncomfortable for those affected – especially if it lasts for a longer period of time. There is also a medical term for the phenomenon. It’s myokymia.
There are usually banal reasons behind it: A trigger can be stress, for example, but also lack of sleep or too much caffeine (coffee!). Office workers who spend hours staring at a screen and tend to have dry eyes also have a certain predisposition to eyelid twitching. The same goes for contact lens wearers. The mechanical friction on the lid could be to blame for the occasional twitching. Often, however, no clear trigger can be determined – sometimes several factors work together.
The good news is, a single lid twitch is usually harmless. However, if other symptoms such as a red eye or pain occur, it is advisable to have the symptoms clarified by a doctor. The same applies if the twitching lasts for a longer period of time, such as days or even weeks. Twitching or drooping eyelids in both eyes could indicate a more serious cause. In this case, the complaints should be clarified as soon as possible.
Twitching eyelid – how to prevent it
But even if the mini cramp is harmless in most cases: you should not ignore the symptom. “The twitching is your body’s signal that you should slow down,” eye doctor Raj Maturi told the New York Times. If you want to prevent the symptoms, you should generally allow yourself more rest, lower your stress level and make sure you get enough sleep. It can also be helpful to drink less coffee, because the caffeine it contains is known to lead to increased muscle tension. Four cups of filter coffee a day should be the maximum, experts advise.
Eating a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables, fiber, nuts, and fruit helps provide muscles with all the minerals they need to work. This can also prevent muscle twitching. You should also pay attention to a good fluid supply and drinking quantity. According to German Society for Nutrition (DGE) it should be around 1.5 liters of water a day.
But what helps if the eyelid should twitch? Moisturizing eye drops or a warm washcloth over your closed eye can provide relief, as can a warm shower, as heat is known to relieve muscle tension.
In the best case, the twitching disappears the way it came: quickly and without warning.
Source: New York Times / DGE