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wikiHow to Stop Eye Twitching

Two Methods:Stopping a TwitchAddressing Possible CausesCommunity Q&A


Stopping a Twitch

  1. 1
    Start with hard blinking. Shut your eyes as tight as you can. Then open them up as wide as possible. Continue this type of blinking until your eyes begin producing tears. Stop immediately if you experience pain or if the twitching becomes significantly worse.
  2. 2
    • This method has shown results with increasing circulation as well as stimulating and strengthening muscles.[2]
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
    Try eye hydrotherapy techniques. Alternate between splashing your closed eyes with cold and then warm water. The cold water will constrict blood vessels, and the warm water will dilate the same vessels.[8] This process will help increase circulation and blood flow to the eye, which can help with twitching.

Addressing Possible Causes

  1. 1
    Limit caffeine and other stimulant intake. Too much coffee, soda, or even stimulant medications can lead to eye twitching.[9][10] Try cutting back on your intake. Consult with your doctor first before altering your dose of any prescribed medications, though.
  2. 2
  3. 3
    Get more sleep. General fatigue can lead to dry, tired eyes and result in more occurrences of eye twitching.[11][12] Try to get a full 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Also, limit your use of electronic screens such as TVs, mobile devices, and computer screens leading up to bedtime.
  4. 4
    See an eye doctor. Any of the following symptoms may indicate a more serious condition and warrant a trip to an eye specialist:[13][14]
    • Twitching that persists for more than one week
    • Twitching that completely closes an eyelid
    • Spasms that involve other facial muscles
    • Redness, swelling, or discharge from an eye
    • A drooping upper eyelid
    • Accompanying headache or double vision
  5. 5
  6. 6
    Discuss treatment options. If you experience chronic, benign eye twitching, your doctor may discuss several treatment options. Botulinum toxin (Botox™ or Xeomin) is the most commonly recommended treatment.[15][16] For mild cases, your doctor may also recommend medications such as Clonazepam, Lorazepam, Trihexyphenidyl, or another muscle relaxant.[17]
    • If other treatment options fail, your doctor may discuss surgical options as well. Around 75-85% of patients who experience benign eye twitching benefit from myectomy. For this procedure, a surgeon removes some of the muscles and nerves in the affected eyelids.[18] However, this is not a common treatment, as botulinum toxin injections are usually sufficient.

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • What does it mean if I feel my eye twitching, but no one else can see it?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Most eye twitching is not visible to other people and feels far more dramatic than it looks. Just because other people can't see it does not mean it isn't happening. If you feel your eye twitching and it bothers you, follow the steps in this article.
  • How can I stop eye twitching that has been going on for over a week?
    wikiHow Contributor
    You can try the steps in the this article and make sure that you are getting enough sleep. If all that doesn't help, then you should probably go see a doctor.
  • How can I stop my painful spasm?
    wikiHow Contributor
    If your spasm is painful then you need to see a doctor right away as this can be a sign of something more serious going on. Pain is the body's way of letting you know something's wrong and needs to be checked out.
  • My eyes have been twitching for over 6 hours. Should I be worried?
    wikiHow Contributor
    See a doctor to resolve your question. While it often goes away, if you have any concerns, it's important to speak with a medical professional.
  • Why is it a concern when my upper eyelid droops?
    wikiHow Contributor
    It can be a sign of a nervous system condition or a vitamin, mineral, or electrolyte deficiency as described in the article. See your doctor if you experience drooping.
  • My right eye has been twitching for over two weeks now. I drink coffee here and there, but not too often, and I do get over 11 hours of sleep. What could be the problem?
    wikiHow Contributor
    I often get an eye twitch when I'm stressed. Even if I'm getting plenty of sleep and cut out coffee it will persist until whatever stressed me out has sufficiently passed. Perhaps this is what is causing your twitch as well.
  • My doctor says eye twitching is not a disease. What can I do?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Eye twitching by itself is not a disease. However, it is a very annoying and frustrating experience, and may be a symptom of another problem. Most commonly, it is associated with stress, fatigue, and caffeine consumption. Try reducing your caffeine intake, getting more sleep, and taking more time to relax and de-stress.
  • What is causing my eye to twitch and how do I prevent it?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Here are some possible causes: stress, lack of sleep, computer eye strain (or any other eye strain), fatigue, staring, excessive amounts of caffeine or alcohol, eye injury/neurological problems. You need to treat this eye twitching in simple, natural ways. Cut the amount of coffee to a maximum of 1 cup a day and don't drink too much alcohol.
  • My upper eyelid has been twitching every day for a month. This is driving me crazy. Should I be worried?
    wikiHow Contributor
    I tend to experience "twitching" when I have a lot of caffeine. This includes anything from coffee, tea, and sodas, to chocolate in any form. I recommend cutting out caffeine entirely for 3-4 days and see if it resolves itself.
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    Exercises that will help relax your eyes.

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    Français: arrêter les contractions involontaires de la paupière, Italiano: Fermare la Contrazione Involontaria della Palpebra, Español: quitar el tic de los ojos, Deutsch: Zwanghaftes Blinzeln stoppen, Português: Parar o Tremor Involuntário nas Pálpebras, Nederlands: Een trillend ooglid stoppen, Русский: остановить нервный тик глаза, 中文: 停止眼皮抽搐, Bahasa Indonesia: Menghentikan Mata Berkedut, Čeština: Jak zastavit tiky v oku, 日本語: まぶたの痙攣を止める方法, हिन्दी: रोकें आँख का फड़कना, العربية: إيقاف رعشة العين, 한국어: 눈 떨림 증상 멈추는 법, Tiếng Việt: Ngừng Co Giật Mí Mắt, ไทย: หยุดอาการตากระตุก

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