Last Updated on June 27, 2025 by Aaron Barriga
Eye twitching is a pretty common phenomenon that involves an involuntary spasm of the muscles in the eyelid. It typically lasts for a few seconds or minutes. It can come and go over a few days or weeks.
Here are 7 Reasons for an Eye Twitch:
- Stress, Fatigue, and Lack of Sleep: Our bodies react differently to stress, which can result in eye strain. Fatigue and lack of sleep can again result in a twitching eye.
- Alcohol: Alcohol consumption can take a toll on your health and can result in muscle exhaustion, making your eyes twitch at times.
- Dry Eye: People who wear contact lenses and take medication are more prone to dry eye syndrome. Dry eyes often result in eye twitching.
- Eye Strain: Spending a lot of time in front of computer screens and continuous use of technology can lead to eye twitching. You should schedule an eye exam, as you may need to get an eye checkup done, especially for those of you who wear glasses.
- Blepharospasm: Middle-aged women may experience eye twitching due to a nerve disorder, which involves frequent muscle contraction.
- Allergies and Irritation: Foreign particles such as dust, smoke, and chemicals can result in swelling, itching, and watery eyes, and all of those can make your eyes twitch at times.
- Nutritional Imbalance: There is a possibility of getting an eye twitch due to a lack of magnesium in your diet.
Tips to Get Relief from an Eye Twitch
- Sleep properly for 6-8 hours
- Ditch the coffee and avoid caffeine
- Massage your eyelids
- Put an ice pack with a few drops of chamomile or rose oil on to get some relief from your eye twitch
- Drinking chamomile or lavender tea can help alleviate stress and relax your eye twitch
When is it Time to Consult an Eye Doctor?
A twitching eyelid may not require immediate medical attention. However, persistent spasms may indicate a brain or nervous system disorder. If you have any of the following symptoms, you should consult your doctor:
- A swollen, red eye that may have some uncommon discharge
- Drooping upper eyelid
- Every time your eyelid twitches, your eyelid completely closes
- Twitching for several days
- Twitching infects other body parts
Eye health is a vital part of your well-being. If you want to ditch the twitch and are looking for a trusted eye doctor in Fresno, call us at 559-449-5050 or click below to book an appointment.
Dr. Azhar I. Salahuddin is an ophthalmologist and is fellowship-trained in cornea, external diseases, and refractive surgery. Dr. Salahuddin has been performing cataract surgery for over 19 years and specializes ocular reconstruction, corneal transplantation surgery as well as vision correction through a variety of intraocular lenses. Dr. Salahuddin is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and was trained at Boston University.
