Why do I have palpitations in the eye?

For most people, these twitches are mild and feel like a gentle tug on the eyelid. Others may experience a palpitation strong enough to force both eyelids to close completely. These spasms usually occur every few seconds for a minute or two.

What is?

An eyelid twitch, or myokymia, is a repetitive, involuntary spasm of the eyelid muscles. A palpitation usually occurs in the upper eyelid, but can also occur in the lower eyelid. Palpitations in the eye are uncontrollable from the eyelid. Most last only a few minutes, but sometimes an eyelid twitching can persist for days or longer.

When the eyelid is twitching, we may think that everyone else can see it. But most eye twitches are subtle and almost unnoticeable by others. Also, they are unpredictable. The shrinkage may occur intermittently for several days. So you may not experience any spasm for weeks or even months.

Palpitations in the eye are usually painless and harmless , but they can be very annoying. Most spasms will resolve on their own without the need for treatment. In rare cases, these can be an early warning sign of a chronic movement disorder, especially if the spasms are accompanied by other facial twitching or uncontrollable movements.

Types

Palpitations in the eye can be classified into general eyelid spasm, essential blepharospasm, or hemifacial spasm. However, it is recommended that a specialist doctor examine our particular case.

general twitching of the eyelid

Some amount of eyelid throbbing can be considered typical and does not indicate any kind of serious problem. These spasms can arise from a mix of environmental factors and usually go away with rest.

If these contractions are persistent and disruptive to our lives, we may want to talk to a doctor about the symptoms. It is recommended not to make decisions on our own, such as self-medication.

Benign essential blepharospasm

If the spasms become chronic (long-term), we may have benign essential blepharospasm, which is the name for chronic, uncontrollable blinking. This condition usually affects both eyes and is more common in women than men.

It usually develops in middle or late adulthood. The condition is likely to worsen over time and can eventually cause blurred vision, increased sensitivity to light, and facial twitching.

hemifacial spasm

If the eyelid twitching affects only one eye, it may be hemifacial spasm. This type of spasm is a neuromuscular disorder usually caused by a blood vessel putting excessive pressure on one of the facial nerves.

This disorder is more common in women than in men, and it is also more common in Asian people. If left untreated, it can cause frequent and uncontrollable eye twitching, an inability to open the eye, or spasms in all the muscles on one side of the face.

Causes

Palpitations in the eye can have their origin in a wide variety of causes. If this symptom bothers us, it can be useful to talk to a doctor. Twitching or twitching of the eyelids can be caused or worsened by:

• Eye irritation, corneal stress or abrasion
• Environmental irritants, such as wind, bright lights, the sun, or air pollution
• Fatigue or lack of sleep . Lack of sleep, whether due to stress or some other reason, can lead to palpitations in the eye. Getting the right amount of sleep and having a consistent sleep schedule can help.
• Physical effort or stress . Stress is probably the most common cause of eye twitching. Yoga, breathing exercises, spending time with friends, and getting more downtime are all ways to reduce stress that may be causing your eyelid twitching.
• Consumption of alcohol, tobacco or caffeine . Too much caffeine can cause eye twitching. We’ll try cutting back on coffee, tea, and soft drinks (or switch to decaf versions) for a week or two to see if the eye twitching goes away.
• Dry eyes . Many adults experience dry eyes, especially after the age of 50. Dry eyes are also very common among people who use computers, take certain medications (especially antihistamines and some antidepressants), wear contact lenses, and consume caffeine and/or alcohol.
• Allergy. People with eye allergies may have itchy, swollen, and watery eyes. Rubbing your eyes due to allergy symptoms releases histamine into the eyelid tissues and tear film, which can cause eye twitching.
• Medication side effects
• light sensitivity
• Uveitis or swelling of the middle layer of the eye
• Blepharitis or inflammation of the eyelid
• Conjunctivitis
• migraine episodes

complications

Rarely, eye palpitations are a symptom of a more serious brain or nerve disorder. When eyelid twitching is the result of these more serious conditions, they are almost always accompanied by other symptoms.

Brain and nerve disorders that can cause eyelid twitching include:

• Bel’s palsy (facial palsy) is a condition that causes one side of the face to tilt downward.
• Dystonia: Causes unexpected muscle spasms and the body part in the affected area twists or contorts.
• Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis): causes the neck to spasm randomly and the head to twist in awkward positions.
• Multiple Sclerosis – is a disease of the central nervous system that causes cognitive and movement problems, fatigue, and eye twitching.
• Parkinson’s disease – can cause trembling limbs, muscle stiffness, balance problems, and slurred speech.
• Tourette syndrome – characterized by involuntary movements and verbal tics.

remedies

Most eyelid twitching goes away without treatment within a few days or weeks. If they do not disappear, we can try to eliminate or reduce the possible causes. To relieve eye palpitations, we may want to try some of these treatments:

• drink less caffeine
• get enough sleep
• Keeping eye surfaces lubricated with artificial tears or over-the-counter eye drops
• Apply a warm compress to the eyes when a spasm begins

If a doctor determines that intervention is needed, antibiotics, surgery, or a variety of other treatment options may be recommended depending on the cause.

Can Botox work?

Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections are sometimes used to treat benign essential blepharospasm. Botox can relieve severe spasms for a few months . However, as the effects of the injection wear off, you may need more injections.

Surgery to remove some of the muscles and nerves in the eyelids (myectomy) can also treat more severe cases of benign essential blepharospasm.

Prevention

If your eyelid twitching occurs more often, we will try to keep a diary and note when they occur. We must take into account the intake of caffeine, tobacco and alcohol, as well as the level of stress and how much sleep we have had in the periods before and during the eyelid contraction.

If we notice that we have more spasms when we don’t get enough sleep, we’ll try to go to sleep 30 minutes to an hour earlier to help relieve tension in the eyelids and reduce spasms.