Muscle Twitching Under Eye

Have you ever experienced a situation when your eye starts twitching uncontrollably? It causes a lot of discomfort, and may even cause embarrassment if it occurs in public. Muscle spasms are not dangerous, however, they can be caused due to health conditions that can be severe. Muscle twitching above or under eye is known as myokymia. It is a general term used to describe involuntary twitching or spasms of a single muscle or a group of muscles.

Possible Causes of Eye Muscle Twitching

Eye twitching can be caused due to a number of reasons. Stress and anxiety are the most common causes of twitching in the eye muscles. People who worry a lot, or are under a lot of stress, experience this condition. As stress is experienced by a large number of people today, eye twitching is a fairly common condition. Overdose of caffeine is another common cause of eye twitching. On a serious note, nerve disorders and brain damage can also cause under eye twitching.

• Disorders of the eye
• Epilepsy
• Anxiety
• Phobia
• Allergies
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Lack of sleep / sleep disorders
• Fatigue
• Continuous viewing of computer screen
• Overwork
• Eyestrain
• Drug use
• Alcoholism
• Use of certain drugs and medication
• Dry eyes

Occasional twitching of the eye that lasts for a short period is common and not a dangerous condition. It may be simply caused due to fatigue or lack of sleep, and is not a cause for concern. However, if the twitching lasts for a long time, is painful, extends to other parts of the face / body, you need to consult a doctor immediately. Similarly, if muscle twitching is accompanied with swelling, redness, inflammation, irritation near the eye; then it can be a sign of an eye disorder which should be diagnosed immediately. Frequent twitching (occurring every day, or lasting for more than 3-4 days) is also a serious condition and should be brought to the doctor's notice.

Treatment of Eye Muscle Twitching

It is essential to diagnose the cause of eye muscle twitching before looking for a treatment method for the same. If it is caused due to any health disorder, you should consult a doctor to get the condition treated immediately. It may not be possible to get conditions like brain damage treated, however, other conditions can be treated effectively. On the other hand, self-induced causes can be treated with the help of home remedies or self-help methods. Lack of sleep and stress can be treated by meditation, yoga, relaxation techniques, etc. Counseling and therapy can help in treating anxiety and phobia. Secondly, if it is caused due to eye strain or overwork, one should learn time management techniques and reduce working hours. You can get rid of fatigue and tiredness by sleeping for 6-7 hours every day and have regular sleeping patterns. As alcoholism is one of the causes of muscle twitching; it is wise to abstain from it completely. Lastly, nutritional deficiencies can be treated and prevented by following a proper diet.

When talking about the preventive methods, note that following a proper healthy diet and lifestyle is the only way of preventing muscle twitches. Lastly, remember that, if none of these remedies or preventive measures help, and you still continue having muscle twitches, you should look for emergency medical treatment as soon as possible. Take care!