Medically Reviewed by: Edward C. Wade, M.D., F.A.C.S.

What Causes Eye Twitches?

March 7, 2016 . min read

Eyelid twitches (or essential blepharospasm) are involuntary muscle movements that happen in one or both eyelids. Mild occurrences are very common, similar to the minor muscle spasms most people experience in their arms or legs. If you are experiencing a pesky eyelid tic or twitch, these are possible causes.

Stress. There’s not much you can do about this except try to minimize the causes of stress.
Fatigue and tiredness. Not just your body, but your eyes get tired too when over-worked. Catch up with a good night’s sleep.
Alcohol and caffeine. Decaf your life and cut back on alcohol consumption to give your eyes some relief.
Dry eyes. Using computers and wearing contact lenses for long periods of time can cause your eyes to dry, thus making them twitch. Lubricating eye drops can help a great deal.
Eye strain. Prolonged usage of technology that involves continuous gazing at a computer/video/iPhone/iPad screen may cause computer vision syndrome. One of the symptoms can be eye twitching. Cut back on time spent in front of these devices. If it’s part of your job, there are protective lenses you can wear to relieve symptoms, even if you don’t require corrective lenses. Ask your eye care professional for advice.
Allergies and irritation. Environmental factors such as dust, smoke, chemicals, pollens, pet dander and other tiny particles in the air can make your eyes twitch.
Nutritional imbalance. Lack of essential nutrients in your diet may also cause that disturbing eye twitch. So eat healthfully!