Are You Concerned About a Twitching Eye?

If youve ever experienced a twitching eye, you probably already know how distracting this annoying symptom can be. You may have also been concerned that this symptom may signify a serious eye or nervous system condition. Most cases of mild eye twitching are not a cause for concern, although there is a condition known as essential blepharospasm where persistent, more severe spasms of the eyelids occur. While symptoms of a mild twitching eye rarely require treatment, severe and persistent eye twitching may signify the presence of essential blepharospasm which needs consultation with an eye specialist.

Most cases of eye twitching are mild and transient in nature. The cause of eye twitch can be related to eye strain and fatigue from long periods spent staring at a lighted computer screen or can be due to fatigue, lack of sleep, and even stress. Symptoms of a twitching eye usually resolve on their own within a few days although taking a rest from computer work as well as getting additional sleep to treat fatigue may help to speed up the healing process. Reducing caffeine consumption can also help to resolve the symptoms of a twitching eye. Sometimes taking a complete break from work and relaxing in a warm bath with the eyes closed can work wonders for symptoms of mild eye twitch. The more you can do to reduce your stress load and limit the use of your eyes, the quicker the symptoms will generally resolve.

If the symptoms of eye twitching fail to resolve over the course of a few days, involves both eyelids, or becomes severe, you may have a more serious form of blepharospasm that needs treatment by an eye doctor. The most common treatment for essential blepharospasm is botox injections to allow the muscles around the eye to relax. . In most cases, this will need to be repeated every few months to prevent recurrence of the eye twitch. In severe cases, surgery may be required to remove the offending nerve thats causing the eye to twitch.

To prevent reappearance of a twitching eye in the future, make it a point to take frequent breaks if you work in front of a computer screen. Resting your eyes by getting up from your computer screen every thirty minutes can walking around can be therapeutic for this problem. Of course, youll want to work towards reducing stress and getting a good nights sleep each night which will not only reduce symptoms of eye twitching but will help to optimize your health in general.