A good day appears. Suddenly your eyelid starts to twitch. It is like a small nervous twitch in the eye, which can last just a few seconds or several minutes.
Generally only you perceive it, the others do not notice it since the eye does not close much more than during a normal blink. However, it is a very uncomfortable and strange feeling that usually sets off all your internal alarms.
What is eyelid myokymia?
Eyelid myokymia is the name given to those small spasms or involuntary muscle contractions that occur quickly and rhythmically in the eyelids. It is most common on the lower eyelids, although it can also appear on the upper eyelids, but usually only on one.
The “fault” lies with the orbicularis muscles, which are responsible for allowing you to open and close your eyelids. When they suffer involuntary spasms, they cause those annoying contractions in the upper or lower eyelid. Episodes of eyelid spasm almost always occur for several days – not necessarily in a row – although sometimes they can last for a few weeks, and then disappear.
Why is my eyelid twitching?
The most common causes of eyelid myokymia are stress, fatigue and tiredness. Lack of sleep or excessive consumption of caffeine, energy drinks or alcohol could also be at the root.
In fact, this problem is also known as the “medical student disease” due to the frequency with which it affects this population, especially during the most stressful periods of their career.
In this sense, a study carried out at the University of Tuzla revealed that the risk of suffering eyelid spasm increases as one progresses in the degree: 28% of third-year students suffered from it, 50% of fourth-year students and with the fifth year coming, 75% of the students had one eyelid twitching.
Being stressed or suffering from anxiety often causes facial muscles to tense. When the muscles and nerves around your eyes are too tense and you don’t give them a break, the eye becomes overstimulated, causing these twitches and spasms.
Other causes of eyelid myokymia
It has also been noted that it is a more common problem in women and affects more those who live in cold climates. In addition, some medications, such as topiramate, clozapine, gold salts or flunarizine can trigger eyelid myokymia, as well as nutritional deficiency.
Straining your eyes too much could also cause that eyelid twitch. Prolonged use of the computer or mobile devices can cause eye fatigue because the eye muscles work harder when focusing on close objects, so looking at screens for long periods can cause fatigue and tension in the eyes that end up triggering these spasms.
The good news is that a retrospective chart review at Montefiore Medical Center of patients with isolated eyelid myokymia who were followed for at least a year found that, except for one case, it was a benign condition that usually disappears alone.
However, it is important that you are aware that sometimes this tremor in the eyelid can be the first sign of more serious neurological problems, such as blepharospasm. In this case, these are not small tremors but more vigorous spasms that can make you close your eyelids completely or make it difficult to keep your eyes open.
It is usually a warning sign if the spasms occur in both eyes, spread to other areas of the face or worsen over time since eyelid myokymia usually disappears on its own. Therefore, when in doubt, it is always better to consult an ophthalmologist.
What is the treatment of eyelid spasm?
As a general rule, patients suffering from isolated eyelid myokymia are recommended to rest and eliminate risk factors, such as alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, and stress.
In cases of persistent myokymia; That is, if it lasts more than three months, it may be necessary to intervene. Botulinum toxin injections are the first-line treatment and have a high success rate.
In chronic cases, is considered a more complex treatment with calcium, folic acid, phosphorus, potassium and multivitamin supplements in case there is a deficiency in the base that is causing these muscle spasms.
References:
Hadžić, S. et. Al. (2016) The Prevalence of Eyelid Myokymia in Medical Students. British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research; 14(6): 1-6.
Banik, R. & Miller, N. R. (2004) Chronic myokymia limited to the eyelid is a benign condition. J Neuroophthalmol; 24(4): 290-292.
