The eyes often twitch, what does it mean from a medical point of view?

Almost everyone must have experienced twitching eyes. People say, twitching in the left eye means getting sustenance a windfall or even someone is missing you. Meanwhile, if the lower right eye is twitching, this is a sign that you will cry. Is it true? Actually, what causes twitching of medical glasses? Check out the following explanation.

What is an eye twitch?

Eye twitching is described as a throbbing or vibrating sensation in the area of the eyelids, under the eyes, to the eyebrows. This sensation occurs repeatedly without being controlled.

Usually you only feel the upper left eye twitch at a time or vice versa. This condition rarely occurs in both eyes at the same time.

Twitching is not an eye disease. In the medical world, eye twitching is known as myokymia. The throbbing sensation that appears is caused by the nerves of the upper or lower eyelid tensing and spasming.

Twitching in the left eye, upper right eye, or any other location is usually painless and harmless. However, it can be very annoying if the twitch you are experiencing is strong enough to cause the eyelids to completely close and reopen on their own.

What causes eye twitching?

It is not known exactly what causes eye twitching, whether in the left or right eye, in the lower or upper area. However, twitching eyes do not always indicate a dangerous condition.

The reason is, there are various daily activities that can be said to trigger twitches, such as:

1. Fatigue and lack of sleep

After a long day of study and work, your eyes may get tired. That is why your eyes need rest, one of which is sleep. If you are sleep deprived, there are several eye disorders that can occur.

In addition to causing eye bags to enlarge and blacken, lack of sleep can also cause twitching of the eyelids. This condition can also occur when you are stressed. Stress sometimes makes it difficult to sleep at night. As a result, the fatigue that your eyes feel builds up and triggers twitching.

2. Consume caffeine

Caffeine doesn't just exist in coffee. Many food and beverage products contain this substance, namely chocolate, tea, soda and other energy drinks. The goal is to make you more alert and energized.

When it enters the body, caffeine will stimulate the central nervous system, which is your brain. You may notice one of the effects, which is to reduce drowsiness and make you more productive.

Simply put, if you drink caffeine in the late afternoon or evening, you will have a hard time falling asleep. As a result, you are sleep deprived and twitching can occur.

Drinking too much caffeine can also cause muscle spasms and the risk of twitching the left eye or the other side.

3. Smoking and drinking alcohol

Like caffeine, alcohol and cigarette smoke also stimulate the muscles in your body to become tense. Alcohol contains caffeine and cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals that enter the body. It is likely that the compounds in cigarettes and alcohol can trigger the eyelid nerves to tighten.

The combination of cigarette smoke and alcohol is not very healthy for the body. In the long term, not only is the risk of eye twitching, but also of various other chronic diseases.

4. Too long staring at gadgets

Eye fatigue isn't just a result of not getting enough sleep. All day staring at a computer screen or gadget also causes fatigue in the eye muscles. This is at risk of causing eyelid twitching. Especially if you have dry eyes, you will be at greater risk of twitching.

5. Use of certain drugs

Another cause of myokymia is the use of certain drugs. Antiepileptic and antipsychotic drugs affect your nerves and muscles, causing muscle tension and tremors (shaking of the body).

In addition, diuretic drugs to prevent the buildup of fluids in the body can also cause the body to lack magnesium. Magnesium is needed by the body to support the performance of nerves and muscles. If this mineral is not fulfilled, the body's muscles will be prone to convulsions.

6. Diseases that cause eye twitching

Although very rare, left or right eye twitching can also be a sign of a number of neurological conditions. Usually, twitches that indicate illness will be followed by other symptoms in the body.

Some health conditions or diseases that can also cause eye twitching include:

Blepharospasm
Hemificial spasm
Bell's palsy
Dystonia
Multiple sclerosis (MS)

How to deal with twitching naturally?

Most people don't need medical treatment because the twitching in the eye usually goes away on its own. Even so, there are simple ways you can try to reduce the sensation of eye twitching. Some of them include:

1. Compress the eyes

Often times the lower left eye twitching is caused by tired eyes. Now, to relieve tired eyes, you can do warm compresses in the area around the eyes. Do this every night before bed until your eyes feel more relaxed. If the twitch persists, try alternating warm compresses with cold water every 10 minutes.

2. Acupuncture / massage

Massage is usually done to relax tense and stiff muscles. Like body massage, eye massage also has the same function. You don't need to go to a therapist for eye massage. You can do it yourself at home.

Gently massage the brow area in a circular motion for a few minutes to relax the eye muscles. Slowly, start massaging into the side of the eye, under the eye area, and the inside of the eye.

3. Cut down on alcohol and caffeine

To deal with twitching in the eyes, you are advised to reduce drinking alcoholic drinks and those containing caffeine. You should also avoid energy drinks and painkillers for a while.

Instead, you can drink tonic water or coconut water. Coconut water is claimed to relax tense muscles because it contains chemical compounds quinine.

4. Sleep early

Overcoming left or right eye twitching, up or down, can only be done by getting enough sleep. If a few days ago you slept late due to staying up late, starting tonight, try to sleep 10-15 minutes earlier than your normal sleep schedule.

5. Facial sauna

Not only will it soothe and hydrate your face, the hot steam will open and clean your pores. The trick, pour hot water in a bowl, cover your head with a towel and let the steam warm your face.

Also try adding essential oils, such as eucalyptus, lavender, or rose which are also effective for relieving tense muscles.

6. Wear artificial tears

If your twitching is caused by dry eyes, you can use artificial tears. You can easily find artificial tears at many pharmacies or drug stores without a doctor's prescription. However, don't forget to always read the usage label printed on the packaging before using it.

What are the available twitch treatments?

Although generally myokymia isn't a condition to worry about, you shouldn't take it for granted. Especially if the eye twitches for a long time, often recurs, and other symptoms appear that interfere with activity.

To treat eye twitches, whether on the left, right, or, or below, you need to first know what is the cause. Usually, the doctor will perform several tests to determine the cause.

Various medications that you must undergo to deal with nerve disorders that cause twitching of the eyelids, include:

1. Botox injection

In this procedure, a small amount of botulinum toxin (Botox) enters the area around the eye. The injections will temporarily weaken the muscles and relieve spasms. The effects of botox last for about 3-6 months.

2. Medicines

The doctor may prescribe medicines to treat eye twitches, according to the cause. Some medications that may be given to treat twitching include:

Medicines to block excessive motor signals in the brain
The drug acyclovir or the steroid prednisone to block the course of infection and reduce the sensation of eye twitching
Analgesic drugs, such as aspirin, paracetamol, and ibuprofen to relieve pain
Ointments, drops, or gels to reduce dry eye
Certain drugs to reduce dystonia symptoms, such as anticholinergic agents, GABAergic agents, and dopaminergic agents

3. Operations

Quoted from the Cleveland Clinic, surgery may be performed when botox injections or drugs don't work. Surgical procedures will be tailored to suit your condition and the cause of your eye twitching.

When should I see a doctor?

Eye twitching, whether in the right or left eye, up or down, is often harmless. However, if this happens continuously, you must be vigilant. Especially if the twitch is accompanied by various disorders in the body. This is because twitching can be a sign of a more serious medical condition.

Here are some conditions that you should check with your doctor immediately: