Eye Twitching: When You Should See A Doctor

Have you ever noticed your eye twitching after you’ve had too much coffee, you stay up too late at night, or experience seasonal allergies? It’s pretty common to experience eye twitching due to minor issues, but if the problem is persistent, you may need to see an eye doctor.

What Are The Most Common Causes of Eye Twitching?

Some of the more common triggers of eyelid twitching include:

• Dry eyes
• Drinking alcohol or caffeine
• Bright light
• Fatigue
• Stress
• Smoking
• Wind or air pollution
• Irritation, such as by a stray eyelash
• Certain medications

What Are Other Reasons My Eye Could Be Twitching?

If the common triggers above don’t seem to resonate with you, you may experience eye twitching as a result of one of these conditions:

• Essential blepharospasm— A nerve impulse causes your eyelid to close involuntarily.
• Hemifacial spasm— A blood vessel presses on a facial nerve, causing part of your face to tighten.
• Blepharitis— The eyelids are inflamed when oil glands around the eye become clogged.
• Corneal abrasion— The cornea (the clear protective layer of the eye) becomes scratched.
• Uveitis— The uvea (middle layer of eye tissue) becomes inflamed.

It can also be a symptom of certain neurological conditions, such as:

• Bell’s palsy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cervical dystonia
• Oromandibular dystonia and facial dystonia
• Parkinson’s disease
• Tourette syndrome
• A chronic movement disorder

When Should I See a Doctor for Eye Twitching?

Before you see an eye doctor, you can try some simple home remedies to stop the eye twitching. The Mayo Clinic recommends you schedule an ophthalmologist appointment if any of the following occur:

• The eye twitching persists for several weeks
• Your eye is red, swollen, or discharges liquid
• Your eyelid droops, closes completely when it twitches, or is difficult to open
• You experience twitching in other parts of your body as well