Eye twitching and spasms are very common and, thankfully, rarely tend to be a result of something serious. However, just because they’re not painful, it doesn’t mean that twitching eyelids can’t be very annoying and uncomfortable to live with.
Typically, it’s just the lower eyelid that twitches, however in some cases the upper lid or both of them can.
A number of lifestyle factors can cause eye twitching, including:
- Stress
- Allergies
- Tiredness
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Eye strain
- Dry eyes
These are a few of the more common causes of eye twitching. However, if your eye twitching has become a cause for concern for you, or they’ve been twitching for a while, it’s advisable to pay a visit to your optician or GP.
How can I stop my eye twitching?
If your eye twitching is the result of one of these following causes, it’s advisable to follow the steps we’ve laid out for treating the issue.
Stress
Eye twitching can sometimes be as a result of too much stress. There are plenty of ways you can bring down your stress levels, such as breathing exercises, short walks and enjoying more relaxation time.
Allergies
Eye allergies release histamine into the eyes, which leads to swelling, irritation, itchiness and sometimes twitching. Most allergies are caused by agents such as pollen and dust, however a new cleaning product in your regime can often be the case behind an eye allergy, and eye twitching as a result. Simply removing this cleaning product from your life can help your eye twitching to stop.
Or, in the case of allergies caused by dust or pollen, your doctor may be able to prescribe you some anti-histamine eye drops to relieve the symptoms.
Tiredness
A lack of sleep often leads to twitchy eyes, amongst a number of other symptoms. If you’ve been burning the candle at both ends, just try to catch up on some sleep and you should see your eye twitching disappear.
Caffeine
Unfortunately, caffeine can’t be the answer to eye twitching caused by tiredness, as it often triggers the condition itself. A way around this is to cut back on how much caffeine you’re eating and drinking to see if it has a positive effect on your eyes.
Alcohol
Excessive alcohol intake has been known to cause eyes to twitch. That’s why it’s always advisable to drink responsibly, and to limit your alcohol intake in order to stop your eyes from twitching and spasming.
Eye strain
Eye strain can result if you’re overworking your eyes. Focusing in poor light conditions and extensive digital screen use can trigger pain, sensitivity to light, dry eye and even eye twitching. Ways to reduce eye strain include gentle eye massages, practiced blinking during screen use and going to visit your optician to see if your prescription may have changed.
Dry eyes
Dry eyes offer a number of uncomfortable symptoms, such as red eyes, grittiness, irritation and sometimes twitching. Applying some eye drops to your eyes can help restore the moisture and stop the twitching.
If this is a recurring condition, it could be a good idea to speak with your optician or GP regarding a longer-term solution to your dry eye.