Once in a while, we all get twitching eyes. Many times when this happens, we wonder about the reasons behind this phenomenon. In fact, “why is my eye twitching?” is one of the most searched questions on Google. The main reason behind the twitching of our eyes is eye irritation, eyelid strain, fatigue, a lack of sleep, physical exertion, the side effects of medication, stress, and the use of substances such as alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine.
An irritated eye is a common issue that is linked to the twitching of the eye. Specifically, irritation can occur on “the surface of your eye (cornea) or the membranes that line your eyelids (conjunctiva)” (“Blepharospasm: Why Does My Eye Keep Twitching? How Can I Stop It?”). This type of irritation is commonly caused by bacteria or the production of oil near the eye.
Similar to eye irritation is eyelid strain. According to Mayo Clinic, “Eyestrain is a common condition that occurs when your eyes get tired from intense use, such as while driving long distances or staring at computer screens and other digital devices” (“Eyestrain”). This is a common problem with the present generation due to our prolonged use of screens.
General fatigue is another clue as to why our eye is twitching. In particular, “Fatigue is a term used to describe an overall feeling of tiredness or lack of energy. It isn’t the same as simply feeling drowsy or sleepy. When you’re fatigued, you have no motivation and no energy. Being sleepy may be a symptom of fatigue, but it’s not the same thing” (“Eyelid Twitch: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention”). So, a lack of energy can lend to the twitch of our eye.
In a similar vein, a lack of sleep contributes to this issue as well. Getting less than the prescribed eight hours of sleep a night can cause eye twitching, though it usually takes a certain amount of time before this issue manifests. It may take a few days of getting six hours or less of sleep a day for it to be present (“Blepharospasm: Why Does My Eye Keep Twitching? How Can I Stop It?”).
Interestingly, physical exertion can also be an explanation for the twitching of an eye. If one does too many sports, engages in manual labor too long, or does exercises to the extreme, eye twitching can occur. That is a good example of why it is important to be balanced in one’s physical exertion (“Eyelid Twitch: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention”).
In addition, some medications cause the twitching of eyes. According to WebMD, “Eye twitches can also be a side effect of certain medications. The most common include drugs that treat psychosis and epilepsy” (“What Medications Cause Eye Twitches?”). Therefore, it is good to be aware of the medications you take and if they cause eye twitching.
A reason behind eye twitching that is a mixture of both physical and psychological impacts is stress. When we are stressed, our body can initiate an involuntary response that manifests as an eye twitch. This twitch itself can be stressful not only because we get tired of it happening, but also because we get worried about people seeing us with a fluttering eye (“Reduce Stress to Eliminate Eye Twitches”).
Lastly, eye twitching can happen due to the intake of alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine. All three can result in the nervous system going to extremes. Thus, when an imbalance in the nervous system occurs, eye twitching can be present (“Eyelid Twitch: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention”).
Though the question “why is my eye twitching?” is a common query on Google, it cannot be summed up by one word or two. In fact, there are typically eight reasons behind this phenomenon: irritation of the eye, strain of the eyelid, fatigue, a neglect of sleep, physical exertion, side effects of medication, stress, and the employment of substances like alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine.
“Eyelid Twitch: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention.” Healthline, Healthline Media, www.healthline.com/health/eyelid-twitch#causes.
“Blepharospasm: Why Does My Eye Keep Twitching? How Can I Stop It?” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/eye-health/why-your-eyes-twitch#1.
“Eyestrain.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 18 Oct. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eyestrain/symptoms-causes/syc-20372397.
“What Medications Cause Eye Twitches?” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/eye-health/qa/what-medications-cause-eye-twitches.
“Reduce Stress to Eliminate Eye Twitches.” Your Sight Matters, 4 Apr. 2016, yoursightmatters.com/reduce-stress-eliminate-eye-twitches/.
Follow us on Reddit for more insights and updates.
Welcome to A*Help comments!
We’re all about debate and discussion at A*Help.
We value the diverse opinions of users, so you may find points of view that you don’t agree with. And that’s cool. However, there are certain things we’re not OK with: attempts to manipulate our data in any way, for example, or the posting of discriminative, offensive, hateful, or disparaging material.