Left eye twitching means good fortune, right eye twitching means disaster? The real "omen" may be this!

"Left eye twitching brings fortune, right eye twitching brings disaster!"

If your eyes keep twitching, you might be sick!

Does eyelid twitching have a scientific name? The professional medical name for eyelid twitching is blepharospasm .

Around the eye sockets, there are some muscles called orbicularis oculi muscles that control eye opening and closing. These muscles over-contract, repeatedly contract, or even spasm or tremor, causing "eyelid twitching".

Classification of eyelid twitching Physiological eyelid twitching

It is generally mild and if it is caused by overwork, it will recover after rest.

Pathological eyelid twitching

It is caused by refractive errors of the eyes (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, etc.), foreign objects in the eyes or trichiasis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, etc. The attacks are frequent, lasting for a long time, and the amplitude of the tremors is large. Some people will even twitch their eyebrows, forehead, corners of the mouth, or even half of the face.

Eyelid twitching caused by facial muscle spasm is mostly caused by the facial nerve that moves the eyelid muscles being compressed and stimulated by abnormal blood vessels in the brain. In very rare cases, it is caused by intracranial tumors or arachnoid adhesions that stimulate the facial nerve.

Causes of eyelid twitching: 1. Physiological stimulation reaction : such as lack of sleep, mental stress, excessive use of eyes, lack of sleep, irregular life, working under strong light or dim light for a long time, eating irritating food (such as coffee, tea) and medicine, etc., which make the eyelids weak and twitch involuntarily. However, the amplitude of such eyelid twitching is very small, and usually only the person himself knows it. As long as he leaves this stimulating environment and takes proper rest, he will recover.

2. Psychological problems : such as excessive psychological pressure.

3. Calcium deficiency : Calcium is a very important substance for nerve conduction. People whose eyelids twitch due to calcium deficiency usually also have symptoms such as twitching of the corners of the mouth and trembling of the hands.

4. Eye diseases : such as keratitis, conjunctivitis, or people with refractive errors, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism who do not wear appropriate glasses, or foreign objects in the eyes, inverted eyelashes, etc.

5. Local muscle atonia : Eyelid twitching is also common in patients with local muscle atonia. Patients often blink their eyes spontaneously when they are nervous.

6. Facial nerve palsy : Facial nerve palsy often has symptoms similar to those of a cold or viral infection, and is often accompanied by eyelid abnormalities such as eyelid twitching or inability to close the eyes properly. Facial nerve palsy caused by stroke is also accompanied by symptoms such as crooked mouth corners and hemiplegia.

7. Compression or stimulation of the main facial nerves : Brain tumors or arteriosclerosis can cause compression or stimulation of the facial nerves, causing autonomous twitching of the eye and facial muscles.

How to judge? If any of the following situations occur, please go to a regular hospital as soon as possible!

1. Eyelid twitching lasts for more than 1 week;

2. There is a tendency to progressively worsen;

3. Accompanied by unilateral or bilateral facial muscle twitching;

4. Accompanied by neck muscle twitching;

5. Have a history of facial paralysis;

6. Accompanied by symptoms such as eye infection or entropion.

Aier Eye Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University

Director Zhao Min of the Eyelid and Orbital Disease/Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Department reminds you: Regardless of the cause, if your eyelid twitching persists for a long time and does not improve after rest, or even worsens, it is recommended to seek medical attention in a timely manner.