In case you’ve experienced eye twitching, you definitely know how unpleasant this condition is. These twitches represent spontaneous, recurrent eyelid muscle spasms. In most cases they last for a few seconds, but there are cases when they last for a minute or even two minutes.
The majority of eye twitches are actually not harmful and they occur frequently. The lower lid of the eye is the part that is usually involved in this condition, but it is not unusual for the upper eyelid to twitch too.
Even though eye twitching can appear spontaneously, the situation can become worse or you can provoke it by certain activities and conditions. When you determine the exact cause, you can use natural homemade remedies to get rid of this problem.
What Causes Eye Twitching and What Kind of Home Remedies We Can Use?
1. Stress
Stress is a common condition these days and the truth is that every individual has different reactions to this problem. In some cases, eye twitching is just a sign of high stress level and this is especially true in cases where eye vision issues are present along eye twitching.
So, eye twitching can be one of the reactions of our body to stress.
In order to fight stress, you can rely on a myriad of home remedies. For instance, many people find meditation useful. Meditation can be practiced in any place and in any way you want. Obviously, yoga can also help in situations like this.
There are few other efficient natural remedies to get rid of anxiety and stress and don’t forget that essential oils are efficient too. There are special essential oils for anxiety and stress.
2. Sleep Deprivation
Lack of sleep can have impact on the body in many different ways. In case you are not having a rest during the night, there is a great chance that you will witness eye twitch during the day.
This means that you must get sufficient sleep at night and you can ensure this by not using electronic devices about 1-2 hours before bedtime. In addition, you should have your last meal about two hours before you go to bed and this meal should not be heavy. Finally, you should also develop a good sleep pattern and try to go to bed a little bit earlier if necessary.
In order to enhance the quality of sleep, you can eat many different foods that support sleep. Additionally, you should take some essential oils and herbs too. According to some experts, there are certain breathing techniques that can be helpful too.
3. Alcohol, Cigarettes and Caffeine
There are certain products that acts as depressants or stimulants and many people consume them on a daily basis like cigarettes, alcohol and caffeine. These products can result in eye twitching. If you are a smoker, try some of the many methods that will help you quit smoking.
In case you are a fan of caffeine, instead of drinking three cups of coffee a day, you can drink one and replace the other two with water boosted with fruit or with herbal tea. They will energize your body without causing problems. Needless to say, they’ll guarantee proper hydration.
Water enriched with fruit can also serve as an alternative to alcoholic beverages. Stay away from alcohol and use teas or water whenever you see that the eye twitch is back.
4. Dry Eyes
Senior citizens are the group of people who usually have problems with dry eyes. It is not unusual for individuals who spend a lot of time working on their computers, those who wear contact lenses, drink alcohol and caffeine and people who use specific medications to experience dry eyes too. Even stress and sleep deprivation can lead to dry eyes.
If you want to ease the symptoms right away and get rid of eye twitching, apply a warm tea bag or compress on top of the eyes. Feel free to make a compress by taking a washcloth and soaking it in warm water. After that, just apply the washcloth on top of your eyes (eyes should be closed).
5. Eye Strain
In case you have a desk job or you simply spend a lot of time reading or sitting in front of a computer or other similar devices, you are at risk of eye strain that can ultimately lead to eye twitching.
So, if you are at work, make very small breaks (3-5 minutes) every hour or every 90 minutes and stay away from the computer during this period of time. It would be even better if you can spend those breaks outside and get exposed to sun and fresh air.
In many cases, eye strain is a sign of bad eye vision. In cases like this, you should visit your doctor’s office and check your vision. Remember that there are some specially designed eye exercises that can help you with eye strain too.
6. Malnutrition
There are certain nutritional deficiencies that can lead to eye twitching.
Magnesium is a mineral that helps the stabilization of the circulatory and nervous system. This important nutrient protects the body from involuntary muscle spasms and cramps by stabilizing heart rhythm and regulating blood pressure and managing nerve impulses at the same time. Check for signs of magnesium deficiency and consume more foods that are packed with this mineral. You can also take supplements if needed.
Potassium is another important mineral and electrolyte that is efficient in healing muscle spasms and similar health issues thanks to the support it provides to the cells, tissues and organs. Once again, try to learn more about the symptoms and signs of potassium deficiency and include more magnesium-rich foods in your diet.
Finally, calcium is a very important nutrient that protects our nervous system and it plays vital role in treating and healing muscle spasms. However, using any of these nutrients alone is not sufficient.
For example, if magnesium is not present in the body, calcium will not be efficient because magnesium supports proper absorption of calcium. When we talk about this mineral’s absorption we must mention vitamin D and vitamin K2 because they too support its absorption.
This means that there is a connection between all these nutrients and only if you make a good combination you can feel their effects. In any case, try to eat more foods packed with calcium too.
7. Allergies
There are many people who are dealing with allergies as a result of the presence of environmental pollutants and irritants which often lead to watery, swelling and itching eyes. If you are in a situation like this, you probably rub your eyes and this is what causes eyelid twitches. The best idea is to determine the element or compound which results in eye irritation and allergy and remove it. You can also relieve the symptoms with the help of essential oils.
Eye Twitching – When Is The Right Time to Visit a Doctor
In case you believe that eye twitching may be linked to poor vision, you should consult an optometrist. These professionals will provide several tests to check your condition.
In addition, it is the best idea to visit an eye doctor when you start experiencing chronic eye twitching or when this situation lasts for three months or longer. If eye twitching is accompanied by other signs and symptoms, you must visit a doctor who will determine whether eye twitching is just a sign of some more serious health issue like neurological or brain disorder.
So, visiting a doctor is a must in case you notice some of these symptoms in addition to eye twitching:
- A loose eyelid
- Redness and/or swelling of the eye
- The twitching spreads to other parts of the face
- The eyelid firmly shuts the eye whenever you twitch
- A strange discharge comes from the eyes.
It is also possible to experience chronic eye twitching in case you have corneal abrasion. This indicates the presence of an injury/damage or simple scratch on the cornea of the eye which represents the transparent, protective lens located on the front side of the iris. In situations like this, visit your doctor right away.
Via Healthy & Natural World | All About Vision