The superstitions ingrained in the minds of many Romanians tell us that when “our eye twitches” we will experience unfortunate events or, on the contrary, a day full of auspicious events awaits us.
However, medical science contradicts these popular beliefs and explains, for everyone to understand, what are the causes of these eye twitches and what we can do about them.
Eye spasms, attributed to stress, fatigue or excess caffeine
Although these spasms (also called Meige syndrome) last very little and should not worry us, there are certain moments when they must be taken seriously, especially when they occur over a long period, and which must send us directly to the specialist’s office.
Eye twitching occurs spontaneously, either in one eye or in both, and is not a phenomenon that can somehow be controlled. Once it occurs, this reaction can last from a few seconds to a few minutes or even days.
Although the cause is not fully known, doctors are of the opinion that eye twitching is a result of stress and chronic fatigue, ailments specific to the society of the 21st century. Insufficient sleep and excess coffee or energy drinks are other causes that can trigger this reaction.
Severe neurological disease manifested by eye twitching
Ophthalmologist Dr. Alberto Martinez, spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, believes that other possible causes of eye twitching can be: eye irritation, foreign body in the eye, alcohol abuse, allergies, nutritional deficiencies and dry eye syndrome.
In exceptional cases, eye twitching can indicate a symptom of a neurological disorder, such as blepharospasm (abnormal blinking or spasms of the eyelids) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Eye spasms with more serious consequences, such as the complete closing of the eyelid and its strong contraction, are often caused by irritations on the surface of the cornea (the part that covers the iris and the pupil) or the conjunctiva (the membrane that covers the inner surface of the eyelids and the anterior surface of the globe eyes).
When we go to the doctor if our eye is struggling
If the twitching of the eye does not disappear within a week or the symptoms worsen (temporary blindness, photophobia, blurred vision, difficulty keeping the eyes open, etc.), you should make an appointment at the ophthalmologist’s office. He will perform a routine examination to determine if you suffer from various conditions, including dry eye syndrome, a possible cause of eyelid spasms. Symptoms such as sensitivity to light or facial grimaces will also be evaluated.
How to treat eye strain
In most cases, eye twitching does not require specialized treatment and disappears by itself. In some cases, however, medical evaluation is necessary, which can help alleviate symptoms. “We can even say that a complete eye exam sometimes works like a placebo on patients, healing symptoms instantly,” says Dr. Martinez.
What you can do to get rid of this problem is to try to avoid stress, sleep more and reduce the amount of caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea or energy drinks.
When you are at your desk and this involves computer activities, take regular breaks to rest your eyes and blink more often to prevent dry eye syndrome. At home, you can try relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation or acupuncture.
In severe cases, doctors may suggest evaluation by a neuro-ophthalmologist, who may recommend treatment with botulinum toxin injections to stop, at least temporarily, the spasms. In the case of blepharospasm, surgical intervention called myectomy is indicated, which involves the removal of certain muscles or nerves from the eyelid area.
2023-09-17 07:27:34
#Eye #twitching #good #sign #neurological #disease #hide