Twitching of the eyelid
definition
A twitching eyelid is popularly known as a nervous eye. This describes possible triggers, such as stress or emotional stress.
One speaks of a nervous eye when the eye muscles suddenly contract without conscious control. In principle, all muscle groups in the body can be affected.
The causes of a twitching eyelid are usually harmless, but those affected find it extremely stressful. In rare cases, however, serious, mostly neurological diseases can also be behind it.
Possible causes of eyelid twitching
A twitching eyelid leads to an unconsciously controllable activation of the eye muscles.
The causes of eyelid twitching are diverse. It often occurs at a time when the person affected is particularly stressed or overworked. Lack of sleep, tiredness and exhaustion also play an important role in the occurrence of eyelid twitching. This can be a general concern of the whole body or the psyche. However, the eyelid twitching also occurs when the eyes themselves are overstrained and exhausted - for example from reading a lot, working on the computer and using the wrong glasses.
Other possible triggers are things that are incorrectly in the eye. Typically these are eyelashes that get into the eye. Small grains of dust or other foreign objects that are thrown into the air can also get caught in the eye and cause eyelid twitches.
In addition to these typical exertion-related causes of eyelid twitching, hormonal disorders or diseases can also play a role in the development of eyelid twitching. A deficiency in minerals such as electrolytes and vitamins (vitamin B12 deficiency) can lead to eyelid twitching. A lack of magnesium can make the eyelid twitch. Such a deficiency can be triggered by gastrointestinal diseases with diarrhea and vomiting. An incorrect diet over a long period of time can also cause such deficiency symptoms and thereby cause eyelid twitching. This also applies to hypoglycaemia or the consumption of alcohol, coffee, nicotine or drugs.
Conjunctivitis that needs treatment can also be behind it. Or a foreign body in the eye can trigger the eyelid twitch. This also applies to irritation from contact lenses.
With a twitching eyelid, however, one always has to think about neurological diseases. A twitching eyelid can occur with a tic disorder, Tourette's syndrome, epilepsy or multiple sclerosis.
In almost all cases, however, there are other accompanying symptoms. In most cases, a twitching eye is completely harmless. In order to rule out more serious illnesses, however, you should see your family doctor or ophthalmologist. After a brief interview and physical examination, this can rule out the worst possible causes. Since the causes are so diverse, a more detailed investigation should be carried out if the eyelid twitching occurs more frequently or persists.
Learn more at: What can be causing eye twitching?
Can this be an indication of multiple sclerosis?
In multiple sclerosis, there is usually no twitching of the eyelid.
In the disease, the myelin sheaths of the nerve fibers are destroyed by an autoimmune disease. Without the myelin sheath, the nerves can no longer properly transmit the excitation. As a result, neurological deficits such as sensory disorders or paralysis occur again and again.
Since in principle all nerves in the body can be affected, the symptoms are very diverse. It is therefore difficult to diagnose the disease, especially in the early stages, and a twitching eyelid would actually be conceivable in multiple sclerosis, even if not typical.
The classic symptoms at diagnosis are visual disturbances, since the optic nerve is mostly affected by this inflammation. Sensory disturbances and paralysis can also occur, depending on the area of the central nervous system in which the myelin sheaths were destroyed
Read more about the topic here: Multiple sclerosis.
Can that also be an iron deficiency?
A twitching eye is actually not typical of an iron deficiency. Classic symptoms that indicate iron deficiency are tiredness and fatigue, difficulty concentrating, pale skin, hair loss, brittle nails, cracked corners of the mouth and a weakened immune system
If you don't have these symptoms in addition, iron deficiency is unlikely. With a simple blood test, however, the doctor can determine whether there is still an iron deficiency. It is therefore advisable to have a blood test carried out if iron deficiency is suspected.
Find out more about the topic here: Iron deficiency.
Eyelid twitches after consuming caffeine
Sometimes an eyelid twitching occurs after consuming caffeine.
Just like stress or emotional distress, caffeine increases the level of tension in the body. This often leads to irritation of the nerves. There is a short-term disruption in the central nervous system.
The balance between excitatory and inhibitory impulses is impaired for a brief moment and a nerve activates a muscle without any voluntary control. This becomes visible in the form of a twitch.
A twitching eyelid usually improves quickly if you get enough sleep for a few days and avoid caffeine.
Eyelid twitching from stress
In addition to a lack of minerals, stress is the most common cause of eyelid twitching. The most common mechanism that causes eyelid twitching is chronic fatigue and tiredness. This can be triggered by physical stress such as lack of sleep or illness. Psychological stress factors such as pressure to perform, overstimulation or critical life events can also cause eyelid twitching.
In general, various hormones are released in the body in stressful situations. These are intended to make the person concerned more productive. Stress becomes a problem when it persists over a long period of time. The body continuously releases hormones that, for example, strengthen the thyroid function. The so-called sympathetic nervous system, which should prepare our ancestors to fight or flee, is also activated by the stress hormones. This leads to the fact that the muscle tension increases and the nerve cells transmit signals more quickly. This can lead to minor disturbances, for example resulting in uncontrollable twitching of the eyelids. Symptoms usually go away when the stress level is reduced.
Eyelid twitching from the thyroid gland
An eyelid twitch can also be triggered by thyroid dysfunction. The overactive thyroid gland (Hyperthyroidism) significantly more often the cause than an underfunction. Overactive thyroid can be caused by various factors. The autoimmune disease Graves' disease can be the reason for the increased thyroid activity. Inflammatory changes in the thyroid gland, functional disorders or autonomic nodes and tumors can also increase the production of thyroid hormones.
Typically, the increased hormone levels lead to an increase in the activity of the so-called sympathetic nervous system. This in turn releases hormones that increase muscle tension. They can lead to increased excitability of the muscles and thus encourage eyelid twitching. In addition, hyperthyroidism can cause sleep disorders, which can also cause eyelid twitching due to additional exhaustion and fatigue.
Read more on the subject at: Hyperthyroidism
Concomitant symptoms
When the eyelid twitches, the muscles around the eye contract without the person concerned being able to control it. This is often caused by a brief malfunction of the associated nerve.
If stress and psychological stress are the trigger, then patients often complain about the typical accompanying symptoms such as fatigue, exhaustion or headaches.
Muscle twitching can also occur in epilepsy. In a partial seizure, only a small area of the brain is affected by the disorder. There is usually no impairment of consciousness. Muscle twitching can also play a role in other neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or multiple sclerosis (MS).Further symptoms are a disorder of the fine motor skills up to paralysis, sensory disturbances or unsteady gait.
a headache
Headache is the most common accompanying symptom with eyelid twitching. The reason for this is that in most cases, stress, exhaustion and fatigue are the cause of the eyelid twitching. These triggers are very often accompanied by headaches, so both are symptoms of the same cause. Typically, headaches lead to increased tension in the muscles in the head and neck area, so that they can further increase the tendency to twitch eyelids.
Read more on the subject at: Tension headache
Twitching of the face
A twitch in the face is most likely due to stress or psychological distress.
However, there can always be a tic disorder behind it. This disease is the repeated occurrence of uncontrollable contractions of individual muscles or muscle groups (Tics) or repeated involuntary vocal utterances.
With motor tics, a distinction is made between simple tics (e.g. twitching of the facial muscles) and complex tics (e.g. touching objects). This condition occurs mainly in children. Between 5 to 15 percent of all children are affected.
The disease can be treated with medication or psychotherapy. In the majority of those affected, the tics also disappear spontaneously.
Find out more about the topic here: Tic disorder.
The upper eyelid twitches
If the upper eyelid twitches, it is usually because the associated nerves activate the corresponding eye muscles due to a malfunction without the person concerned being able to control it himself
What seems threatening at first is not dangerous in the vast majority of cases. Usually an increased stress level, too little sleep or too much caffeine are responsible for the twitching upper eyelid. Even if it is usually very stressful for the patient, it can be said that outsiders do not notice it that much. In addition, the twitching usually only lasts for a short period of time. It often goes away without treatment.
Read more here: What are the consequences of stress?
The lower eyelid twitches
A twitching lower eyelid is usually harmless and has no disease value.
The corresponding nerves are briefly disturbed due to a wide variety of factors and thus activate their associated muscles without it being controllable for the person concerned.
The most common triggers are stress, lack of sleep, anxiety, restlessness, or too much caffeine. Often the lower eyelid twitches so minimally that other people do not even notice it. It also usually disappears spontaneously. However, if it occurs again and again or persists for a longer period of time, it makes sense to consult a doctor.
Eye twitching when squinting
Squinting your eyes very tightly can make your eyelid twitch. This usually indicates overexertion of the eye muscles. The associated nerves are disturbed for a short time. These then activate a muscle or a muscle group without it being subject to arbitrary control.
If you relax the eye area again, the twitching usually disappears by itself. Symptoms such as stress or psychological distress can increase the twitching of the eyes.
Therapy options
A twitching eye is in most cases not dangerous and has no disease value. Nevertheless, many of those affected find it extremely stressful when the eye muscle culture twitches uncontrollably
The therapy for a twitching eye depends on the cause. Quite often this is stress or emotional stress. There are studies that have shown that stress management and relaxation techniques such as autogenic training can significantly improve symptoms. Behavioral therapy can also be useful in dealing with emotionally stressful things. If the general level of tension is reduced, the twitching eyelid usually also disappears.
If a magnesium deficiency is the cause of the twitching, you should take in more magnesium. This can be in food, in tablet or powder form.
If the muscle twitching is caused by serious illnesses, these must be treated. The first point of contact is actually the family doctor. This can then decide whether it makes sense to visit an ophthalmologist or a neurologist. Basically, however, the muscle twitching disappears by itself in the vast majority of cases even without therapy.
Find out more about the topic here: Magnesium deficiency.
Magnesium doesn't help?
Most of the time, magnesium helps with a twitching eyelid, because magnesium deficiency is often the trigger for muscle twitching. However, there are numerous causes of eyelid twitching. A magnesium deficiency is not always responsible.
For example, if it is stress and emotional stress that lead to a twitching eyelid, the symptoms will not improve with magnesium intake. Unfortunately, this is relatively common, which is why the term “nervous eye” has become popular. In these cases, relaxation methods such as autogenic training are more helpful.
Find out more about: How can you reduce stress?
homeopathy
Homeopathic remedies can be used for eyelid twitching. As a rule, they do not work directly against the twitching of the eyelid, rather they can help reduce stress and calm down and thus alleviate the symptoms. One of the most popular remedies is valerian, which is mainly taken for sleeping in the evenings. Lycopodium and Aconitum can also be taken if there is inner restlessness. Those who, on the other hand, are under strong pressure to perform, benefit from remedies such as Argentium nitricum, Calcarea carbonica and Stramonium.
Schüssler salts
Like homeopathic active ingredients, Schüssler salts are mainly used because of their anti-stress effect on eyelid twitching. A cure program can look like this: in the morning you should take potassium phosphoricum against symptoms of fatigue, at lunchtime Ferrum phosphoricum is suitable for reducing tension and in the evening you can take magnesium phosphoricum against inner restlessness. Calcium phosphoricum can also alleviate symptoms when you are exhausted.
Read more on the subject at: Schüssler salts
diagnosis
In order to determine the cause of the twitching eyelid, the doctor will first ask the patient in detail how often the twitching occurs and whether there are any accompanying symptoms. Usually the doctor already has a suspected diagnosis based on the anamnesis.
This is followed by a physical examination. The family doctor will first shine in the eyes and check whether there are any abnormalities, e.g. Evidence of conjunctivitis or inflammation of the eyelid margin. The ophthalmologist can also assess the cornea more precisely; sometimes there is irritation there too, which can trigger a twitching eyelid.
Ultimately, however, the family doctor can also say with relative certainty whether a visit to the ophthalmologist or a neurologist is worthwhile, or whether it is a harmless phenomenon with no disease value.
Duration of eyelid twitching
In the vast majority of cases, a twitching eyelid only lasts for a limited period of time. It depends a little on the trigger.
Mostly stress and psychological stress are the cause. If the level of tension in the person concerned is reduced, the twitching eyelid usually disappears on its own. A magnesium deficiency, which is another trigger, can usually be compensated for quickly.
However, if the eye twitches over a longer period of time, a visit to the (eye) doctor is strongly recommended.
Eyelid has been twitching for weeks - how can that be?
Usually, a twitching eyelid will go away on its own after a short period of time. However, if the symptom persists for several weeks, one should look for the trigger. These are often harmless. Even if the twitching eyelid has been around for weeks, it doesn't have to be threatening. In any case, however, you should consult a doctor in order to rule out serious illnesses.
Common triggers for a twitching eyelid are stress and emotional distress. Sometimes these stresses are so massive that the level of tension in the body is so high that the twitching of the eye muscles persists for weeks.
Of course, there can also be a neurological disease such as a tic disorder behind it. Simple motor tics lead to uncontrollable contraction of individual muscles, e.g. a twitching eyelid. A distinction is made between temporary tics that last less than twelve months and chronic tics that last longer than one year. Also with tic disorder, the symptoms improve spontaneously in 60% of cases. However, drug or psychotherapeutic intervention is also possible.
Can that also be a brain tumor?
A brain tumor can also be the cause of the eyelid twitching. There are two possible mechanisms of action for the development of the complaints. For example, brain tumors can release hormones and thus trigger the eyelid twitching, similar to stress. Another possibility is that the tumor in the brain presses on surrounding structures and thus leads to malfunctions. If the areas that control the activity of the muscles in the eyelids are affected, eyelid twitching can also be caused. Basically, however, these mechanisms only rarely come into effect, so that in the rarest of cases an eyelid twitch is the first or only symptom of a tumor disease
Read more on the subject at: Signs of a brain tumor
