Jess Battison
A doctor has explained why your eyelid might ‘randomly’ twitch and just how to put a stop to it.
And randomly is the right word, it can be pretty weird when you’re just chatting away to your pal at the pub and it suddenly looks like you’re rapidly winking at them.
Plus, when that skin around your eye does start moving a madness, it usually feels like there’s nothing to do about it but just ride it out.
While it can simply just come and go for no apparent reason, the eye doctor has revealed the condition that can be behind the phenomena for many people.
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Appearing on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast, Dr Joseph Allen revealed the host’s occasional eyelid twitching may be down to ‘eyelid myokymia’.
Right, there’s no need to be freaked out by that science-y name, eyelid myokymia is a very common condition and nothing to be afraid of.
Myokymia is caused by a brief involuntary contraction of the muscles in the eyelids, and while it’s annoying, it’s very rarely a cause for concern.
Allen explained muscle contractions in the eyelid is often referred to as 'medical student twitching eye' as the condition is most likely to happen to somebody who is feeling 'stressed'.
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"It's usually people who are stressed out," he explained. "People who are not sleeping too well and drinking way too many stimulants."
The doctor went on to reveal that he often sees patients who will come in to see him complaining about eye twitches while drinking an 'energy drink'.
The NHS also adds that the twitches are often linked to: stress and anxiety, tiredness and exhaustion, drinking caffeine or alcohol and some medications.
While Allen explained most people who experience eye twitches have nothing to be concerned about, he added that a small percentage of cases can be caused by a rare condition caused a blepharospasm.
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This is a neurological disorder where a person's eyelids 'close involuntarily' and occurs in both eyes at the same time.
Allen was quick to add that the vast majority of people who have the occasional twitchy eye don't need to worry.
"Get more sleep, stop drinking so much caffeine and try to look at your stress levels," he added.
The NHS echoes this as it recommends getting plenty of rest, finding ways to relax and trying not to worry about it.
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If you have an eye twitch for over two weeks, the area feels weak or stiff or you think a prescribed medicine might be causing it, see a GP.