Are you getting funny looks because people think you are winking at them? Are they wondering if you are some kind of shady dealer because after you say something you end with a wink?
Eye twitches can be annoying and at the very least be the source of insecurity in social situations. So what causes them and are they a health concern?An eyelid twitch, referred to as a blepharospasm by eye care professionals, is an involuntary and repetitive spasm of the eyelid muscles. They are often mild and feel like a gentle pulling on the eyelid.
In most cases eyelid twitches are a result of everyday life, from external things to diet and lifestyle.
The following have been known to cause eye twitches:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Fatigue and or lack of sleep
- Bright lights
- Smoking
- Stress
- Irritation of the eyes or eye strain
- Side effects of medication
Luckily, you can control most of the causes above by what you put into your body. By altering the amount of alcohol or caffeine consumed your eye twitch will likely dissipate on its own. The same can be said for cutting back or quitting smoking and trying to improve your sleeping patterns. Additionally, limiting your time staring at computer or televisions screens, which can cause eye strain, could help to alleviate the problem.
In some rare instances, eyelid twitches can be a sign of certain brain and nervous system disorders. If an eye twitch is a predecessor to a chronic illness it is always followed up by other symptoms. Illnesses with symptoms that include eye twitches are as follows:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Bell's palsy
- Cervical dystonia
- Dystonia
- Tourette syndrome
- Oramandipular dystonia and facial dystonia
- Parkinsonism
If you have had an eye twitch that has been persistent and have other associated symptoms contact your physician. If you have been experiencing persistent eye twitches please feel free to set up an eye exam with us today!
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