What causes eyelid twitching?

We often experience eyelid twitching. At this time, some people around us will say that the left eye twitching means good fortune, while the right eye twitching means disaster. I believe many people have also heard this mysterious explanation. Although the superstitious explanations for eyelid twitching vary from culture to culture, the so-called left eye twitching means good fortune, while the right eye twitching means disaster is actually completely without scientific basis.

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1. Physiological mechanism of eyelid closure

Why do our eyelids twitch uncontrollably? To understand the reason, we first need to understand the mechanism of eyelid opening and closing.

We gently close and open our eyes, and the wonderful world appears before our eyes. Don't underestimate this action of closing and opening, it involves two muscles. When we need to close our eyes, the main muscle that works is the orbicularis oculi, which is the main muscle of the eyelid, surrounding the periphery of the eye and allowing the eye to produce the action of closing the eyes.

When we need to open our eyes, the main work is done by the levator palpebrae superioris muscle, whose contraction allows us to open our eyes. Under normal circumstances, these two muscles cooperate with each other, and they can open and close our eyes smoothly. When our eyelids twitch, it is actually the eyelid muscles that tremble, which in turn drives the skin to twitch. When the nerves of the eyelid levator palpebrae superioris and the levator palpebrae superioris responsible for closing and opening the eyes are disturbed, or when the eyes are stimulated, it will cause spasms or tremors of the above two muscles, resulting in eyelid twitching, which is also called eyelid twitching.

2. Causes of eyelid twitching

The causes of eyelid twitching can be divided into two categories: physiological and pathological. Physiological eyelid twitching is mainly caused by fatigue, stress, allergies, etc. Long-term fatigue and mental stress may cause eyelid twitching. In this case, eyelid twitching is a manifestation of excessive fatigue of eye muscles. Lack of sleep, long-term viewing of computers, mobile phones and TV, long-term driving, long-term reading and studying can all cause fatigue and lead to eyelid twitching.

When people are under too much stress, they are prone to anger, anxiety, tension and other emotions, which can easily stimulate emotions and excite nerves, leading to increased muscle activity, which can cause eyelid twitching. Sometimes eye allergies can also cause eyelid muscle tension, causing eyelid twitching. Among them, allergies caused by pollen, mites and eye cosmetics are more common. Pathological eyelid twitching is a disease that usually lasts longer and has a higher frequency. This type of eyelid twitching is mostly related to disease, such as eye diseases, such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, etc., which cause eye discomfort and thus cause eyelid twitching. In addition, diseases of the nervous system, such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, etc., and nerve damage can also cause abnormal nerve conduction and cause eyelid twitching.

3. How should we deal with eyelid twitching?

If it is a normal physiological eyelid twitching, don't be nervous, and don't believe in superstition. It is recommended that you maintain a good rest and sleep state, and avoid overusing your eyes. Proper rest can effectively relieve eyelid twitching. Gently massaging the muscles around the eyes with your fingers, or applying a hot towel to the eyes can effectively relieve the symptoms of eyelid twitching. In addition, using artificial tears or eye drops can also effectively relieve dry eyes and reduce and relieve eyelid twitching. If you have ever had eye allergies, you must take precautions in advance to reduce the risk of eye allergies. When your eyelids twitch too frequently or last too long, it is likely that it is not a normal physiological eyelid twitching. We recommend that you seek medical treatment in a timely manner and conduct targeted treatment and rehabilitation according to the doctor's advice.

The article is produced by Science Popularization China-Starry Sky Project (Creation and Cultivation). Please indicate the source when reprinting.

Author: Zong Weimin, a popular science writer

Reviewer: Zhang Xia, deputy chief physician of the Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital