We've all had it happen. Our eyelid starts twitching or spasming away. At first, it just feels funny, but after a while, it can start to drive you crazy. 

The first time you experience a twitchy eyelid, it can be very concerning.

Usually, your lower eyelid will start twitching for 4-5 minutes, and then it stops, and then it starts back up again. You look in the mirror, but you can't see anything wrong. You rub your eye, and the problem goes away for a short period before starting all over again.

Sound familiar? 

Every year, we see hundreds of patients who present to our eye clinic with these exact symptoms. A twitchy eyelid like this is usually nothing to be concerned about, and more often than not, it ends up being a benign eye condition commonly referred to as 'Myokymia.' 

The Classic Presentation: 
Jim saw us last winter while he was attending NAIT. He was a welder trying to get his Journeyman certificate and was finally in the home stretch. Jim is also a family man with a wife, two kids and stressed over being stuck in the classroom. 

He reported feeling exhausted trying to balance his home life, with his school life and was finding it difficult to study after the kids went to bed. Jim noticed that he would fall asleep whenever he picked up the books. To help concentrate, he started drinking pop to stay awake but then couldn't fall asleep when it was time to go to bed. 

He ended up in our clinic though because his left eyelid started twitching about a week earlier and it was driving him nuts. It just wouldn't stop, it had been twitching for almost a week. Initially, he thought he got a piece of dust or metal in it, but flushing his eye out didn't help. Jim also reported that the eyelid twitching seemed to come and go, but it was worse at night. 

An eye health exam by one of our optometrist revealed that nothing was physically wrong, no dust or metal and his vision was great with no signs of reading problems. In the end, we diagnosed Jim with myokymia (twitchy eyelid). We educated him on the reason (see below) and coached him through the 6-steps on how to manage it (yep, keep reading). The best part was two days later he reported that the twitching eyelid had stopped.  

What Causes of a Twitchy Eyelid?

A twitchy eyelid is usually the result of a sudden contraction of the obicularious muscle responsible for closing your eyelids. The twitching sensation most often impacts the lower eyelid and occasionally can even place pressure on the eyeball itself, causing the eye to move. However, this is a very rare phenomenon.

A twitchy lower eyelid signifies that your body is trying to tell you that things are out of balance. Whether you have a twitchy right eye or a twitchy left eye, it’s a manifestation of an underlying problem that needs addressing. And no, there is no significance between a right twitchy eye and a left twitchy eye.

The most common cause of a twitchy eyelid includes physical exhaustion, increased stress, excessive caffeine (coffee, cola, tea) or alcohol consumption, dehydration, excessive exercise and reduced potassium levels (lack of intact or excessive sweating). Occasionally, an eyelid twitch can result from an eye infection, ingrown eyelashes or something irritating the eye. It can also be related to vision problems causing excessive visual stress and fatigue. 

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for a twitchy eyelid. Symptoms can last up to a month and often disappear as quickly as they began. But there are a few things you can do to help make your twitchy eyelid go away quicker.

Does Type 2 Diabetes Cause Eye Twitching? 

While eye twitching is not directly caused by type 2 diabetes, uncontrolled blood sugar levels can contribute to its occurrence. Factors associated with diabetes, such as stress, fatigue, and electrolyte imbalances, can increase the likelihood of experiencing eye twitching.

While eye twitching is generally benign and resolves independently, managing and controlling blood sugar levels is essential. Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in physical activity, and managing stress can help in managing diabetes and reducing the likelihood of experiencing eye twitching.

6-Lifestyle Changes for Twitchy Eyelid Relief.

1. Reduce your caffeine consumption

2. Reduce your alcohol consumption

3. Drink more water

4. Go to bed a little earlier for a few days

5. Eat foods rich in potassium (bananas, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beets, etc.).

6. If possible, try to reduce your stress levels. Twitchy eyelids often appear around big deadlines and events in life (projects, finals, weddings, funerals, etc.), so this one is easier said than done.

If these 6-lifestyles changes don't provide relief or your twitchy eyelid symptoms, seem to get worse, or you’ve had a twitchy eyelid for weeks, book an appointment to see us.

If it's an infection, an ingrown hair, or something else, our optometrists can deal with the problem right away.

In some rare chronic cases, your twitchy eyelid might require more aggressive treatment, such as Botox (botulinum toxin) injections. These injections will help to control the spasms for about 3-months by temporarily weakening the muscle, and may need to be repeated.

We always welcome walk-in appointments and eye emergencies like twitchy eyelids, call us early in the day, and we would be happy to see you. 

Remember, most twitchy eyelids are not medical emergencies but a sign that your body isn't happy. To learn more about twitchy eyelids, check it out on Medscape. 

Leave a comment below and let us know if you've ever experienced myokymia (twitchy eyelid) and how you managed it. 

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Kingsway Mall | Edmonton | Alberta