The quarterly sales reports are due tomorrow, your youngest woke you up three times crying about nightmares and you’re on your third cold brew of the morning. Now that you finally have a moment alone in your home office, you try to focus on work. But the more you stare at your spreadsheets, the more your eyelid twitches. What is going on?
This may sound like an extreme example, but we can all relate—more than we’d like to admit. Life is stressful, and our digital dependence can add strain to our eyes. That’s why we reached out to Todd Altenbernd, MD, a comprehensive ophthalmologist with Banner – University Medicine to learn more.
When should I be concerned about an eye twitch?
If your eye is twitching in isolation, and the twitching only lasts for a few days, there is likely no need to worry. Dr. Altenbernd advised, "If both eyes are twitching, if other facial or non-facial muscles twitch along with the eyelid, or if you experience other symptoms like blurred vision, tearing or irritation, it’s a good idea to consult with your doctor.”
Is my coffee causing my eye to twitch?
Excess caffeine can contribute to eye twitching. Cutting back on coffee, tea and caffeinated soft drinks can help. However, there are other potential causes to consider as well:
- Are you getting enough rest?
- Are you on a new medication?
- Are seasonal allergies bothering you?
- Are you spending long hours staring at digital screens?
- Have your stress levels increased?
- Do you smoke or drink alcohol excessively?
- Have you recently moved to an area with high pollution levels?
What treatments are recommended for eye twitching?
Most people will experience benign eyelid twitching at least once. For some, the condition may be more frequent, but the cause is often unknown or related to one of the factors listed above. Treatment typically includes getting more sleep, reducing stress, cutting back on caffeine and avoiding harmful lights. If these measures don’t work and the twitching persists, contact a Banner Health physician.
Dry eye is another common cause of excessive blinking. However, Dr. Altenbernd explained, "Dry eye does not typically cause twitching. Instead, dry eye is often associated with tearing, a foreign body sensation, and intermittent blurred vision that tends to clear after a blink." Treatment for dry eye usually involves frequent use of artificial tears or eye drops and increasing omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. If symptoms continue, your ophthalmologist can help assess the situation.
What about rare causes of eye twitching?
There are several less common conditions that could contribute to eyelid spasms. If you experience any of the following, you should consult with your doctor:
- Neurological tics: This condition often involves a pattern of sequential movements, including forced eyelid closure, mouth movements and limb movements. It can be a side effect of medications like Ritalin, Adderall and long-term use of certain antipsychotic drugs.
- Tourette’s Syndrome: Like neurological tics, this condition often includes involuntary vocal utterances, like noises or words. People with Tourette's struggle to suppress these movements and sounds.
- Benign essential blepharospasm: This rare condition causes a profound, simultaneous squeezing shut of both eyes. It affects fewer than 5 in 100,000 people and can be treated with Botox. The spasms can last a week or more.
- Hemifacial blepharospasm: This condition is usually caused by injury to the facial nerve, often due to an intracranial arterial impingement. It typically causes involuntary twitching or spasms in one eye for weeks or longer, sometimes affecting other facial muscles. An MRI can help identify the cause. While surgery may be required in some cases, Botox is often effective in treating this condition.
- Facial myokymia: This condition causes rhythmic contractions in facial muscles, usually on one side of the face, and can be linked to serious neurological disorders.
When should I seek medical attention?
While eye twitching is often harmless, it can be irritating. If you are concerned about the frequency or severity of your eye twitching, or if you have any other symptoms, it’s important to consult with your doctor or a Banner Health ophthalmologist. Don’t wait—treatment options are available to help manage and resolve your symptoms.
Recommended reading
- What's Causing My Muscle to Twitch and How Can I Make It Stop?
- Not Just for Wrinkles: How Botox Can Help With Other Health Conditions
- Got Something in Your Eye? Here’s How to Remove It Safely
Content in this article was updated on January 27, 2025.
