Why is My Eye Twitching?

Is your eye twitching and you don’t know why? It’s a common problem

Have you ever experienced that annoying twitch in your eye that just won’t go away? Eyelid twitches (myokymia) are involuntary muscle movements that happen in one or both eyelids.

Mild occurrences are very common as a result of stress, fatigue, caffeine, a change of diet or new medication, and can be eased by relaxing or gently massaging the area.

“Other ways to ease the twitching are to place a cold compress over the eye, eat bananas as they contain a lot of zinc and potassium, or drink tonic water, as it contains quinine, which is known to have an effect as a muscle relaxant,” suggests Dr. Sherman Tung, president of the BC Association of Optometrists.

However, if the twitching continues for longer than a few days, Dr. Tung recommends seeking advice from a medical doctor or an optometrist to ensure it is not a symptom of something more serious.

For more information visit bc.doctorsofoptometry.ca