Twitching eyelid: what is behind the annoying phenomenon?

It comes out of nowhere and annoyed mercilessly: a twitching eyelid. From the outside, the rhythmically recurring mini cramp is often hard to see, but it can feel very uncomfortable for people affected-especially if it lasts over a longer period of time. There is also a medical name for the phenomenon. It is myocymia.

Usually there are banal reasons behind it: a trigger can be stress, for example, but also lack of sleep or too much caffeine (coffee!). Office workers who stare on a screen for hours and tend to dry eyes also have a certain predisposition to the shrugging eyelid. The same applies to contact lens carriers. Here the mechanical friction on the eyelid could be to blame for the fact that it twitches every now and then. Often, however, no clear trigger can be determined – sometimes several factors also work together.

The good news is: a single twitching lid is usually harmless. However, if there are other symptoms such as a reddened eye or pain, it is advisable to have the symptoms clarified by a doctor. The same applies if the twitch continues over a longer period of time, about days or even weeks. Spin lids on both eyes or if the eyelid hangs, this could be a more serious cause. In this case, the symptoms should be clarified as soon as possible.

But even if the mini cramp is harmless in most cases: you shouldn’t ignore the symptom. “The twitching is a sign of the body that you should switch back a gear,” said ophthalmologist Raj Maturi in an interview with the “New York Times”. If you want to prevent the symptoms, you should basically treat yourself to more peace, lower your stress level and pay attention to sufficient sleep. It can also be helpful to drink less coffee, because the caffeine it contains is known to lead to increased muscle tension. Four cups of filter coffee a day should be the maximum, experts advise.

A balanced diet with plenty of vegetables, fiber, nuts and fruit helps to provide the muscles with all minerals that you need for your work. This can also prevent muscle twitching. A good liquid supply and drinking quantity should also be taken into account. It should be around 1.5 liters of water a day.

But what helps if the eyelid should twitch? Fearing eye drops or a warm washcloth on the closed eye can ensure relief, possibly also a warm shower, because heat is known for relieving muscle tension.

In the best case, twitching disappears as it came: quickly and without warning.

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