Eyelid twitching
Eyelid twitching or muscle spasms around the eye are most often linked with fatigue or stress. The condition often is caused or made worse by drinking caffeine, smoking cigarettes, or not getting enough sleep. Jerky or jumping eye movements (nystagmus) may also look like twitching. Twitching of the eyelids will usually stop on its own in a short time and will improve with rest or reduced stress.
Call a health professional if:
- You have constant twitching.
- Twitching occurs with redness, swelling, discharge from the eye, or fever.
- Twitching comes and goes and lasts longer than a week.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: December 6, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, FRCSC - Ophthalmology | |
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