5 Possible Causes Of Eye Twitching
1. Being Tired
One cause of having a twitching eye can be due to lack of sleep, this could be for many reasons such as stress, work, social life, etc. Also having poor quality sleep can make you tired resulting in twitchy eyes. If you think this is the cause of your eye twitching, then getting a good 7-8 hours of good quality sleep (for the average adult) would be recommended.
2. Being Stressed
Stress can cause many different reactions to our body, but one of those can be an eye twitch. Reducing stress is very important, not only to alleviate an eye twitch, but also for general health. Try to get more relaxing time in your schedule; exercise, calming breathing, spending time with family/friends are great ways to reducing stress, but do whatever you find helps lower your stress levels and you should notice a difference in your eye twitch.
3. Eye Strain
Straining your eyes can play a part in making your eyes twitch and this could be for many reasons. Eye strain can be caused by working your eyes too much, needing to wear glasses or needing to change your glasses, or using computer or other devices, amongst other reasons. Getting an up to date eye test with an eye doctor or optician will help identify if you need glasses or update your current ones. If you spend a lot of time at a computer or using devices then try the 20-20-20 rule; every 20 minutes’ look 20 feet away for 20 seconds, also discussing computer glasses with your ophthalmologist is a good idea.
4. Dry Eyes
Many people suffer from dry eyes and there are so many causes of this; medications, underlying health conditions, contact lenses, and computer use to name a few. Seeking an in-depth dry eye assessment with a specialist ophthalmologist to determine the best course of action to treat dry eyes is always advised. If treatment is advised such as medication and/or eye drops you may find the twitching gets better.
5. Caffeine & Alcohol
Drinking too much caffeine and alcohol can be a trigger of eye twitching. Try cutting down on alcohol and drinks/foods with caffeine in or switch to decaffeinated varieties for a couple of weeks, if the twitching stops you know what the cause is and how to manage it in the future.
About the expert
Mr Hamada | Consultant Ophthalmologist and Corneal Surgeon
MD, MSc, DO (hons), FRCSEd, FRCOphth I am Samer, founder and consultant ophthalmic surgeon with over 20 years’ experience in ophthalmology. I am a world-renowned specialist in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery. I’m not only a leading surgeon but also the only dual fellowship trained in corneal diseases in children from reputable institutions in the UK. At Eye Clinic London I work closely with other consultant ophthalmologists, optometrists and orthoptists to achieve the best outcomes for our patients. Our main aim is to make sure our patients get the safest and best treatments available to them. We put your safety before anything else so you can rest assured that if you choose us you will be in the best and safest hands.
