A flickering eyelid or a twitching calf muscle is annoying, but almost always harmless. These small involuntary movements, called fasciculations, are extremely common.
Imagine your left eyelid twitching on and off for a week during exam season. You search online and end up convinced it’s something serious. Once exams finish, you catch up on sleep, cut back on coffee and the twitch disappears within days.
Common causes
- Stress and anxiety
- Tiredness and lack of sleep
- Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol
- Eye strain from screens and dry eyes
- Exercise, especially for muscle twitches afterwards
- Dehydration and low magnesium or potassium
- Some medicines, such as stimulants and some asthma inhalers
What helps
- Prioritise sleep
- Cut back on caffeine and alcohol
- Take regular screen breaks using the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds)
- Use lubricating eye drops for dry eyes
- Stay hydrated and eat a balanced diet
- Try relaxation techniques for stress
Most twitches settle within days to a few weeks.
But when should I see a doctor?
See a doctor if a twitch lasts more than a few weeks, the eyelid closes completely, other parts of the face are involved, there’s drooping, or you have muscle weakness, wasting, cramps with weakness, difficulty swallowing or speaking. These are uncommon but need assessment. Twitches alone, without weakness, are rarely a sign of serious nerve disease.
Your next step: If you’ve got a twitch, aim for an extra hour of sleep and halve your caffeine for one week, then see if it has settled.
Sources: American Academy of Ophthalmology (Eyelid twitching), NHS (Twitching eyes and muscles), Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic.
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