Eyelid Twitching
Okay, it seems like a large number of people visiting my site are coming to read about eyelid twitching. In my fourth post (I am now over 250), I simply mentioned that I had one of those eyelid twitching episodes a lot of people seem to get, and it was irritating the heck out of me.
Suddenly, this site became the Mecca for Eyelid Twitchers. I can only suppose that there is relatively little out there about it, or that more people link to my site than they do to sites all about Eyelid Twitching, so I rank higher in Google.
Anyway, I started feeling bad for all those poor twitchers who came to my site seeking information or relief, and just found a really small note saying that my own eyelid was twitching as well. I mean, misery loves company and all, but it really isn’t useful outside of that. So I figured I might as well write something more substantive about eyelid twitching, so here it is.
First off, there’s a name for this: myokymia. “Myo-” is the Greek root for “eye,” and “-kymia” means “I’m making up this etymology.” But the name, at least, is for real. They’re also called eyelid “tremors,” as it sounds kind of psycho to have a “twitch,” or worse, a “spasm.” Nobody likes spasms. “Tremors” sounds cooler.
Myokymia is, according to doctors, “a common condition where a few of the muscle fibers of the upper — or more commonly the lower — eyelid contract irregularly. … Myokymia is closely associated with stress, fatigue, lack of sleep and too much caffeine.”
That’s doctorese for, “you’re eyelid’s twitching, moron. Try changing something.”
This doctor says that myokymia is associated with “brainstem neoplasms,” which sounds even cooler than “tremors.” “Brainstem neoplasms” is bound to get people at the office to pay attention when you talk about your problem. But then, the treatment for that includes a “lumbar puncture with examination of cerebrospinal fluid,” so maybe it’s best not to milk the neoplasm idea too far. Especially for a stupid eyelid twitch.
Frankly, when I get The Twitch, I’m not usually stressed out, I am getting as much sleep as ever, sometimes more, and I don’t drink coffee (I even have decaf Coke). Maybe it’s my Evil Plan to Dominate the World, we usually get eye twitches when we do that.
Some people stand by the theory that it is a vitamin deficiency, usually potassium (because someone once heard that potassium has something to do with muscles; we’re still trying to track that one down), and others swear that it’s a B-vitamin deficiency, saying they lose the twitch immediately when they start taking the pills. I have the strong feeling, however, that this is more to do with something that rhymes with the “flacebo effect.” For all of you who want the above remedies to work, I cleverly disguised my opinions about it there.
Treatment: Reduce your stress, get more sleep, nix the coffee, eat more bananas and B-complex pills. Throw in a couple of sugar pills for good measure. Save the cerebrospinal fluid exam for emergencies.
Or, you might just wait for them to go away on their own. Whatever.
I’ve had my lower right eyelid twitching for a week now. I dring no coffee, don’t seem to be stressed out, I’m getting enough sleep and my glasses prescriptions are practically new. It usally happens when I’m at the computer. It may be happening now while I write this comment. It’s annoying but it’s no reason to go insane.
“Treatment: Reduce your stress, get more sleep, nix the coffee, eat more bananas and B-complex pills. Throw in a couple of sugar pills for good measure. Save the cerebrospinal fluid exam for emergencies.”
Or maybe one can just apply other much more useful cures that are practically, immediately, considerably, genuinely & sustainably effective to the point of gradually progressive & final full recoveries.
“# Tardive Dyskinesia (rapid involuntary uncontrollable eye blinking / eye twitching), which in most cases are caused by the neuromuscular / neurological side effects of certain powerful mind-altering medications and other neurological complications. Whilst the underlying mechanism of such a disease is such that the normal functionings of the neurotransmitters chemical dopamine which co-ordinates the miscellaneous human body movements in this case are disturbed, antagonized and disrupted in this case resulting in one’s loss of control of human body movements, and in this case, one’s eye / eyelids organ.
http://www.bettervisionforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=399 – Various Possible Medical Causes of Unusual Eyelid Twitching / Eye Blinking – Brief Explanations”
Sounds informative.
[link removed by Editor]
“Some people stand by the theory that it is a vitamin deficiency, usually potassium (because someone once heard that potassium has something to do with muscles; we’re still trying to track that one down), and others swear that it’s a B-vitamin deficiency, saying they lose the twitch immediately when they start taking the pills. I have the strong feeling, however, that this is more to do with something that rhymes with the “flacebo effect.” For all of you who want the above remedies to work, I cleverly disguised my opinions about it there.”
A second thought maybe.
I have had for the past three weeks upper eyelid termors, spasms, and i cant figure out why. I also have not changed anything and i have lessened my stress by changing my job two weeks ago…..I have not have this other than in my upper left eyelid.
I eat 1-2 bananas every morning (I had two today) and currently have an eyelid twitch. So there’s the potassium theory out the window… I’ve also been getting 8 hours of sleep the past week, and my caffeine consumption is limited to the occasional can of Dr Pepper. I wish someone could figure out what causes this, cause it’s driving me crazy. I’m about to go find out if cannabis helps…
I’ve had a super stressful week this week, and my slight eyelid twitch is back again (had it last time I was super stressed, too), so for me, I get this due to stress and lack of sleep. This is confirmed by how if I relax, like right now, no twitching, but if I get stressed out again, it might come back. It’ll likely go away totally again in a day or so.
als.net/forum/yaf_postst44919p2_Well-Medical-Professions39-Primary-Considerations-nowadays.aspx
Hi guys
well I have been very worried with this thing. Around Jan 5th I noticed I had lost some feeling in the right side of my left foot, and noticed if I stretched the foot/leg out it would tingle. The day after I noticed that (I was already worried about that) my left lower eyelid began to twitch..and it hasn’t stopped since (some days it doesn’t seem apparent, others its very annoying). The foot has gotten somewhat better, but around my big toe its still very dull numbness and it really bothers me.
I have been to the doctors already about the foot and she does not seem worried, but is confused. The only thing I could think of was a week prior to the foot incident I wore some very painful ice skating boots that I had to take off after 10 mins.
I am basically worried about MS. I read there is some connections between eye twitching and MS, and though eye twitching alone is benign..I’m worried about it with the foot. I’m also scared of going back to the docs and they tell me to stop worrying and don’t take me for tests, because I seriously worry myself to death.