Question: Why is my eye twitching? Answer: Ophthalmologists refer to eye twitching as myokymia or blephrospasm, which is a rippling muscle contraction in an eyelid. Eye twitching, eyelid tics or ...

Understanding the Context

Eyelid twitching can be distracting—and even worrying—but the good news is that most eyelid twitches are harmless. Understanding what causes your twitching and when you should see an eye doctor can help you find relief and put your mind at ease. Myokymia, muscle twitching around your eyes, can happen for many harmless reasons. You can avoid or self-treat most of them.

Key Insights

Eyelid myokymia is a slow, uncontrollable eye twitching that causes wavelike muscle contractions in your eyelids. Eyelid spasm or eyelid twitching, also called blepharospasm, is an involuntary blinking or spasm of the eyelids. Here are a few causes of a twitching eyelid. When you think of an eye twitch, you're probably thinking of eyelid myokymia. This is the medical term for the slight pulsing, flickering or "twitching" of your eyelid.

Final Thoughts

You can feel the twitching above your eye (upper eyelid), under your eye (lower eyelid), or in both your upper and lower eyelids. The short answer: Most eye twitching is not serious. In the vast majority of cases, involuntary eyelid spasms are caused by everyday factors like fatigue, stress, or caffeine, and they resolve on their own within a few days. Is it true that stress can cause your eyelid to twitch? Many people have experienced it — that twitch that causes an eyelid to wiggle for several seconds. Twitches of the eyelid muscles may feel weird ...

Prevention: Why Does My Eyelid Twitch? Common Causes Explained, Plus When to See a Doctor