| Eyelid Myokymia (Lid Twitching) |
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Frequent contributing factors include too much caffeine, high levels of anxiety, fatigue, stress, overwork, and a lack of sleep. |
It happens to all of us – out of the blue, your eyelid starts twitching uncontrollably, and you’re sure everyone around you can see it. You shouldn’t fret, though, because in the majority of cases it is an occurrence that is bothersome at most.
Myokymia is a general term used to describe a quivering or involuntary movement of a single muscle or muscle group around the eye. It is caused by a misfiring of the neurons supplying the eyelid muscles. The most commonly affected muscles are those that close the lids over the eye (called orbicularis), and the superior oblique muscle, which moves the eye down and toward the nose. In the latter case, the patient sees double during an attack; in the former, it is usually a simple twitch in the upper or lower lid. While it feels incredibly noticeable to the sufferer, it is barely perceptible to any observer. This condition can resolve spontaneously, but it can also last up to three weeks.
Frequent contributing factors include too much caffeine, high levels of anxiety, fatigue, stress, overwork, and a lack of sleep. Usage of certain drugs and alcohol may also be involved. This condition usually occurs in young, healthy individuals. Eye irritation or a foreign body in the eye can also be triggers – these should be assessed by your eye care practitioner. Otherwise, to help suppress the twitching, there are several simple treatment options: cold compresses over the eyes, sleep, and relieving the contributing factors. Currently, there is no medical treatment for this condition, and it is not generally advised since the severity of the condition is minimal.
In rare situations, this condition can occur as a precursor to blepharospasm, a more severe form of myokymia.
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