What Causes Eye Twitching

If you are feeling some discomfort with your eyes, it can be helpful for you to learn about what causes eye twitching. Eye twitching is known medically as blepharospasm. The usually harmless condition is characterized by unusual and involuntary eyelid contractions that last for about two minutes or less. In some instances, the contractions are especially severe and lead to the eyes briefly closing up entirely. Knowing exactly what causes eye twitching may help you be able to avoid the problem in the future.

1. Exhaustion due to insufficient sleep can often lead to eye twitching. This condition is particularly problematic and common for individuals that haven't gotten adequate amounts of sleep in a while. This possibility is associated with general exhaustion.
2. Emotional stress can also cause the eyes to twitch. Stress can lead to sleepless nights and overall fatigue, which causes eye twitching.
3. Eye irritation can trigger discomfort of the eyes, as well as twitching. If your inner eyelids or eye surface are irritated, it is a possibility that your eyes will start twitching.
4. Eye strain also causes eye twitching. Stress of the eyes can bring upon eye twitches, such as staring at a computer monitor for hours on end or driving for long distances.
5. Alcohol and caffeine are also culprits. Excessive consumption of either alcohol and caffeine also can trigger episodes of eye twitching.
6. Dry eyes are a particularly common reason for eye twitching. This is one factor for why many elderly people experience twitches. Dry eyes can happen as a result of taking certain medicines, wearing contact lenses and looking at computer screens for extended periods of time. If your eyes are especially dry, there is a big chance that you will experience twitching, as well.
7. Allergies can lead to the condition. Allergy sufferers tend to experience uncomfortable eye irritation, which can cause twitching to occur.
8. Nutrition problems can trigger eye twitching. If you have deficiencies of certain vitamins or minerals in your diet, or any other other dietary imbalances, you might be a candidate for eye twitching. For example, not consuming enough magnesium can bring upon eyelid contractions.