Eyelid twitching may be triggered by:

1. Alcohol intake
2. Bright light
3. Caffeine excess
4. Fatigue
5. Irritation of the eye surface or inner eyelids
6. Physical exertion
7. Smoking
8. Stress
9. Wind

Benign essential blepharospasm is a movement disorder (dystonia) of the muscles around the eye. No one knows exactly what causes it. Hemifacial spasm is typically caused by a small artery that irritates a facial nerve.

Other conditions that sometimes include eyelid twitching as a sign include:

1. Blepharitis (eyelid inflammation)
2. Corneal abrasion (scratch): First aid
3. Dry eyes (decreased production of tears)
4. Entropion (inwardly turned eyelid)
5. Glaucoma (group of conditions that damage the optic nerve)
6. Light sensitivity
7. Trichiasis
8. Uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye)

Very rarely, eye twitching may be a sign of certain brain and nervous system disorders. When it is, it's almost always accompanied by other signs and symptoms. Brain and nervous system disorders that can cause eye twitching include:

1. Bell's palsy
2. Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis)
3. Dystonia
4. Multiple sclerosis
5. Oromandibular dystonia and facial dystonia
6. Tourette syndrome

Eye twitching may be a side effect of drugs, particularly medication used to treat epilepsy and psychosis. And eye twitching is sometimes the earliest sign of a chronic movement disorder, especially if other facial spasms develop too.

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Jan. 11, 2018