Eye twitching usually goes away on its own within a few days or weeks with rest, stress relief and decreased caffeine.
Schedule an appointment with your doctor if:
- The twitching doesn't go away within a few weeks
- Your eyelid completely closes with each twitch or you have difficulty opening the eye
- Twitching happens in other parts of your face or body as well
- Your eye is red or swollen or has discharge
- Your eyelids are drooping
Jan. 16, 2021
- AskMayoExpert. Periocular spasm. Mayo Clinic; 2020.
- What is an eyelid spasm or twitching eyelid? American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/eyelid-spasm-twitch. Accessed Jan. 12, 2021.
- How to stop eye twitching. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/how-to-stop-eye-twitching. Accessed Jan. 12, 2021.
- Twitching eyes and muscles. National Health Service. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/twitching-eyes-and-muscles/. Accessed Jan. 12, 2021.
- Goldman L, et al., eds. Diseases of the visual system. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 12, 2021.
- Benign essential blepharospasm. National Organization for Rare Disorders. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/benign-essential-blepharospasm/. Accessed Jan. 12, 2021.
- Benign essential blepharospasm. Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation. https://www.blepharospasm.org/. Accessed Jan. 12, 2021.
- Defasio G, et al. Blepharospasm 40 years later. Movement Disorders. 2018;32:498.
- Liu GT, eds. Eyelid and facial nerve disorders. In: Liu, Volpe, and Galetta's Neuro-Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 12, 2021.