What Is Eyelid Twitching?
Blepharospasm or eye twitching as its more commonly referred to is the involuntary or uncontrollable twitching of the muscles around the eyelids. Persons who suffer from such blinking disorders notice eye muscle spasms that involve twitching of either upper or lower eyelids. These occurrences can occur intermittently over a period of days to weeks and months. Sometimes twitching may occur just below the eye, while in other cases it may involve twitching in the left or right eye.
Blepharospasm can generally be categorized into two types. The first type, Benign Essential Blepharospasm (BBB) is non life threatening and is not caused by any identifiable factors. The other more severe type of blepharospasm may be linked to neurological disorder like Tourette's syndrome. While the vast majority of people with eye twitching disorders have normal vision that only suffers due to the partial closure of the eyes while twitching, chronic twitching or drooping of the eyelids is an entirely different condition that should not be confused with BBB. Conditions like Ptosis where the eyelids droop are indicative of a weakness or paralysis of the muscles of the eyelid, and as such any such symptoms should be reported to a physician immediately. While minor infrequent eye twitches are not a cause for alarm, any worsening or intensification of symptoms must be referred to an ophthalmologist.
How it Starts
The onset of blepharospasm is usually accompanied by excessive involuntary twitching when exposed to bright light, and some general irritation in the eye. Tiredness, stress and lack of sleep can also be causal factors in the early stages of blepharospasm. As the condition progresses, individuals may notice an increase in the frequency of spasms. Sometimes the twitching may halt temporarily after the person has had a good night's sleep and not occur for many hours after he wakes up. In the more advanced stages of the condition, the eyelid may be shut for several hours at a time as the spasms get more pronounced.
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How to Tell between Constant Eye Twitching and Hemifacial Spasms
In most people, eye twitching tends to be merely an annoying series of spasms that come and go irregularly. These however should not be confused with hemi facial spasms which cause twitching in one side of the face only. Hemifacial spasms are usually related to an irritation of the facial nerves. In such cases, it's advisable to consult a neurologist who will be able to pinpoint the cause of the spasms, and determine an appropriate course of treatment to correct the same. For more information on the causes of blepharospasm and preventive measures for the condition, read on.