Eyelid spasm; Eye twitch; Twitch - eyelid; Blepharospasm

Eyelid twitching usually disappears without treatment. In the meantime, the following steps may help:

• Get more sleep.
• Drink less caffeine.
• Lubricate your eyes with eye drops.

If twitching is severe, small injections of botulinum toxin can temporarily cure the spasms.

The outlook depends on the specific type or cause of eyelid twitch. In some cases, the twitches usually stop within a week.

Permanent eye injury from unrecognized cornea injury is possible, but rare.

Call your primary care doctor or eye doctor (ophthalmologist, optometrist) if:

• Eyelid twitching does not go away within 1 week
• Twitching completely closes your eyelid
• Twitching involves other parts of your face
• You have redness, swelling, or a discharge from your eye
• Your upper eyelid is drooping

Images

Eye muscles

Eye

Review Date: 08/03/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)