Treatment of Eyelid Twitching

In vast majority of cases, it's neither practical nor necessary to treat eyelid twitching, which should go away naturally given enough time. While there is no successful permanent cure for twitching, there are several options available that may curtail its frequency or intensity. Individuals may be advised medication, surgery or preventative therapy. However, bear in mind that very often eye twitching is rooted in physiological causes like stress and fatigue. Once the offending condition is removed, the occurrence of eye twitching reduces dramatically in many cases.

As far as medication goes, the results haven't been predictable or particularly successful. Some oral medications have been found to be particularly effective in some persons while bringing about no positive changes in others. Persons who opt for drug therapies therefore need to have a great deal of patience while the effects of the drugs are monitored.

In the US and Canada, the use of botox as a method to control eye muscle spasms has been approved. Injection of botox into the muscles of the eyelids paralyses the muscles, inhibiting any twitching movements. The procedure involves injecting a miniscule amount of the protein into the muscles. The nerve muscles that cause twitching are thus paralyzed. The injection of Botox is not only a safe and quick procedure, but it's also minimally invasive and can produce dramatic improvements in persons who suffer from eye muscle spasms. However this method should only be chosen by individuals in whom the eye muscle spasms have reached frequent and persistent proportions.

For persons who do not show a positive reaction to medications or Botox, surgery may be chosen as a final alternative. Consult your doctor before making a final decision on your treatment options.

The treatment options for eye twitching can therefore be broadly classified as under :

Mild Eye Twitching – This is a common occurrence that's caused by stress, fatigue, lack of sleep, tiredness and other external factors. Eliminate stressful conditions, get plenty of rest and practice relaxation techniques and you'll find the eye twitching occurrences becoming markedly less frequent.

Severe Eye Twitching – If the frequency of the eye twitching is pronounced or the intensity causes disruption in your normal day to day life, then you might have to consider one of the treatment options available. Medication may be used to help muscles relax, but results are unpredictable at best. The use of Botox to treat blepharospasm is common while in severe cases, surgery may be considered as a final alternative.

Preventive Measures – Practice deep breathing, meditation and other stress management techniques to keep stress at bay. Get plenty of sleep and cut down your intake of caffeine. When working at the computer or watching TV for prolonged periods of time, take frequent breaks to cut down on eye strain.