We’ve all seen it happen in the movies: a character gets pushed just a little too far and displays a hint of madness through a creepy, involuntary eye twitch. In real life however, an involuntary eye twitch isn’t a sign that you’re losing it. It’s much more likely that you’re simply tired or stressed.
Eye twitches, known as myokymia, are involuntary spasms of the eye muscles. You’ve likely experienced these before – one or both eyelids of an eye start twitching or blinking rapidly without your control. In most cases, eye twitching is painless and only lasts for a short period of time. Eye twitches also feel like they’re much more visible than they are – they’re usually too subtle for anyone but you to notice.
Minor eye twitches actually have pretty common causes, such as:
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Eye strain (especially from computers)
- Caffeine or alcohol
- Dry eyes
- Allergies
But what if your eye won’t stop twitching? It’s rare, but sometimes eye twitching doesn’t stop after a few minutes. In some cases, it can go from lasting a few hours to a few weeks. Try making some lifestyle changes first. Cut down on caffeine, limit screen time, and get more rest. If the twitching still hasn’t stopped, now is a good time to make an appointment with your eye doctor.
While it’s painless, constant eye twitching can cause you to squint or cope in another ways that could negatively affect your vision. Sometimes, eye twitching simply won’t go away. The solution could be something simple – you may have the wrong corrective lens prescription, or your eye doctor may recommend Botox® Medical injections due to its unique ability to stop muscle contractions.
If you are experiencing eye twitching or other eye issues, contact Illinois Eye Center at (309) 243-2400 to schedule an appointment with one our eye care specialists today.