What is Eye Twitching?
Developing an eye twitch out of the blue can be perplexing, not to mention very annoying. In most cases, however, eye twitching is a harmless condition that goes a way with time. Small twitches or fasciculations of the upper or lower eyelid need to be distinguished from eye tics, as they only involve a few muscle fiber bundles as apposed to tics which involve whole muscles.
These fasciculations may feel very noticeable, but in most cases they can barely be seen. More serious eye twitching is usually classified as eye tics and in some cases these can become so severe that it affects visual functioning and may disrupt other aspects of daily life.
The severity and duration of eye twitches often depends on the underlying cause.
What Causes Eye Twitching?
Certain conditions such as Tourette’s syndrome, multiple sclerosis, hemifacial spasms or essential Blepharospasm can cause severe and chronic eye tics and twitches which may become extremely disruptive. Other more common causes of eye twitching include:
- Lack of sleep
- Fatigue
- Stress or anxiety
- Excessive caffeine
- Irritation of the cornea
- Eye strain (often caused by too many hours staring at a computer screen, or television)
- Genetics
- Side-effects or withdrawals of certain medications
- Magnesium deficiency
Help for Eye Twitching
Natural Remedies
There are a number of herbal and homeopathic ingredients that can help to reduce or end bothersome or constant eye twitching. Once useful herbal ingredient is Hyoscyamus which has powerful antispasmodic properties and is often used to soothe nervous irritations. This ingredient is often used to treat tics, including those under the eye, and has also been used to help alleviate the symptoms of conditions such as Tourette’s syndrome and Parkinson’s disease.
The homeopathic ingredient Zinc met is also highly recommended as it not only supports the immune system, and aids in the absorption of minerals in the body, it is also excellent at soothing the nervous system and relieving muscle spasms and fidgety movements, especially those related to exhaustion and stress.
Cina is also excellent for relieving twitching and muscle spasms while Chamomilla is very soothing and can help to relive underlying stress and restlessness.
