Causes and treatment of lower eyelid twitching

What is eyelid tremor?

Tremor of the eyelids is often confused with a nervous tic. They can occur as a result of nervous overstrain, but the tic is not permanent. Having appeared once, it may not bother a person for many years.

Tremor of the eyelids occurs against the background of fatigue, stress, and fear. In addition, it can be a symptom of increased intracranial pressure, vitamin deficiency and circulatory disorders of the brain.

To exclude serious diseases, it is necessary to conduct a diagnosis. If necessary, treatment of the underlying disease is prescribed.

Tremor of the eyelids usually begins and ends unexpectedly. But in some cases, especially in the presence of serious neurological diseases or after moderate to severe brain injuries, twitching of the eyelid is observed, which accompanies the patient for several days. People around you usually do not notice this disorder, but trembling usually causes physical discomfort.

Excessive time spent on the computer can cause not only eyelid tremors, but also dry eye syndrome.
To avoid this, you need to reduce the hours of work in front of the monitor, do massage and exercises for the eyes, and use special drops.

Neurologist, reflexologist, hirudotherapist

Kislitsyna Ekaterina Nikolaevna

10 years of experience

The symptom often occurs on the lower eyelid. Trembling is involuntary and cannot be controlled by a person. The vibrations are rhythmic and occur in a specific place. But in some cases the frequency and area may change.

According to experts, tremor of the eyelids can increase when exposed to external factors and decrease at rest.

About drugs

After a full examination, the doctor prescribes a course of therapy aimed at eliminating the situation if the eye twitches. Causes and treatment in adults and children are a combination in which the treatment regimen follows from the origins of the problem. Often a quick way to get rid of a nervous tic is to simply remove the patient from the stressful situation that caused it. However, certain pharmaceutical drugs may be required, the direction of action of which depends directly on the source due to which the eyelid twitches.

To get rid of eye twitching caused by neurosis, you will have to take a course of sedative medications to stabilize the state of the nervous system. Usually these drugs are combined with general strengthening medications, with the help of which you can even improve immunity, which is also important when the eyelid twitches.

If there is an infection or parasites in the patient’s body, a course of therapy is required to eliminate this problem. The treatment also contains medications that normalize intestinal microflora.

An allergic reaction in which the eyelid twitches is treated with antihistamines and drops to relieve irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane. Certain drops and tablets will be required for eye diseases, especially if they are caused by a bacterial infection. In this case, you cannot do without antibiotics, which will stop the eyelid from twitching.

The choice of drug and determination of dosage is made by the doctor after diagnosis. Self-medication can lead to a worsening of the situation, as well as loss of vision.

Causes

As a result of the fact that there are a large number of nerve endings on the face, and the muscle tissue is susceptible to minor forces, tremor occurs in the eye area. Most often it affects the upper eyelid. The causes of trembling are:

1. Lack of sleep. Lack of rest negatively affects a person's health. The first sign is tremor of the eyelids, then immunity decreases.
2. Physical and mental stress. Working at a computer for a long time leads to the fact that the eye muscles begin to get tired.
3. Stress, nervous tension. Since a large number of nerve endings are concentrated on the face, tremors may appear after severe excitement.
4. Fright. It also occurs due to a violation of a person’s psycho-emotional state.
5. Intense activity associated with the performance of professional duties. During work, it is necessary to take short breaks so that the eye muscles can rest and the emotional state returns to normal.

In addition, provoking factors for the occurrence of tremor are:

1. Concussions . The most common cause of frequent twitching of the upper eyelid.
2. Meningitis.
3. Surgical intervention.
4. Postpartum trauma.

Tremor of the upper or lower eyelid may not in all cases be a consequence of stress or overexertion. This symptom can occur against the background of various diseases. These include:

1. Increased intracranial pressure.
2. Avitaminosis.
3. Compression of the ternary nerve.
4. Impaired blood supply to the brain. Often observed with vegetative-vascular dystonia and after various brain injuries.

If eyelid tremor occurs, you should consult a specialist who will prescribe treatment depending on the cause. Often it is necessary to eliminate the disease itself, which became the basis for the development of this symptom. In case of stress and nervous tension, the patient is usually prescribed rest and sedatives.

How can you help yourself?

In addition to the treatment regimen prescribed by the doctor, a patient whose eye twitches is able to help himself independently, especially when this ailment is caused by nervousness.

The following measures will be helpful if the eyelid twitches, regardless of the actual cause:

1. Refusal of bad habits that adversely affect the nervous system and eye muscles.
2. Regular intake of vitamins, especially during the off-season.
3. Compliance with the work-rest schedule, adequate sleep and walks in the fresh air will help solve the problem.
4. Nutrition adjustments, since a well-balanced diet significantly strengthens the visual system even under heavy loads.
5. Limit eye strain, especially when spending time at the computer and TV.
6. Maximum protection from stressful situations, which often become sources of nervousness, against the background of which the eyelid twitches.

When planning to take vitamins, it is preferable to entrust their choice to a specialist. Otherwise, you can only worsen the situation when the eyelid twitches.

Diagnostics

To establish the cause of twitching of the upper eyelid, a differential diagnosis is carried out, which consists of several stages:

1. Inspection. The doctor determines the duration of the tremor and the presence of concomitant pathologies.
2. Neurological examination. The patient is referred to a neurologist to identify disorders of the nervous system.
3. Laboratory diagnostics. Blood, urine, and stool tests are prescribed.
4. Functional tests are performed to establish physical capabilities.

To confirm the preliminary diagnosis and determine the presence of circulatory disorders in the brain, the following may be prescribed:

1. CT and MRI . It is prescribed to study the state of the brain and identify possible abnormalities.
2. Genetic research. In exceptional cases, this symptom may occur as a result of congenital anomalies.
3. X-ray.
4. Angiography to determine the condition of blood vessels.

Based on the data obtained, a diagnosis is made and treatment is prescribed.

Choosing a doctor

Our service will select the best neurologist for you for free when you call our Unified Appointment Center by phone. We will find an experienced doctor near you, and the price will be lower than if you contact the clinic directly.

A therapist will help you decide which specialist to contact if your eyelid twitches. Since the problem may not be of an ophthalmological nature, but is of a neurological nature, you should first visit a general specialist. A visit to the doctor is required if you have the following symptoms:

• the eyelid is festering and noticeably red;
• twitching occurs for more than a week;
• there is a progression of symptoms in the form of contractions in other areas of the face;
• During twitching, the patient feels spasms.

After conducting an examination and collecting the necessary medical history, the therapist will be able to refer the patient to a specialist. For example, if signs of circulatory disorders are detected, the disease will have to be treated by a neurologist. If there are pronounced lesions of the visual apparatus, the help of an ophthalmologist will be required. Often, a tic signals serious problems in the body, so the therapist may prescribe additional examination in the form of tests, especially if the eyelid has been twitching for a long time.

Treatment

Since the cause is usually neurological disorders or head injuries, for tremors of the upper or lower eyelid, the following are often prescribed:

Self-medication is dangerous with complications!

Attention

Despite the fact that our articles are based on trusted sources and have been tested by practicing doctors, the same symptoms can be signs of different diseases, and the disease may not proceed according to the textbook.

Pros of seeing a doctor:

• Only a specialist will prescribe suitable medications.

• Recovery will be easier and faster.

• The doctor will monitor the course of the disease and help avoid complications.

find a doctor

Do not try to treat yourself - consult a specialist.

1. Sedatives .
2. Therapeutic exercise to improve blood circulation in the brain.
3. Rest.

In addition, to prevent the occurrence of tremor and throughout the entire period of drug therapy, it is recommended:

• sleep at least seven hours a day;
• reduce the amount of alcoholic beverages and coffee consumed, as they negatively affect the quality of sleep;
• before going to bed, drink herbal decoctions
• reduce the consumption of energy drinks to a minimum, as they negatively affect the nervous and cardiovascular systems;
• regularly consume fresh vegetables and fruits high in vitamin B;
• plant in your diet ;

Tremor of the eyelids is much less common than other parts of the body, such as the hands or head. Many people confuse it with a nervous tic, but the tremor does not go away on its own and, once it appears, it goes away only after a course of therapy.

Why can our articles be trusted?

We make health information clear, accessible and relevant.

• All articles are checked by practicing doctors.

• We take scientific literature and the latest research as a basis.

• We publish detailed articles that answer all questions.

If this occurs, do not delay going to the doctor, as this symptom is often a sign of the development of serious neurological diseases. Twitching of the upper eyelid can also occur after a head injury, which leads to impaired blood circulation to the brain.

Alternative medicine

Folk recipes have in their arsenal many ways to get rid of various ailments. There are also various remedies available in alternative medicine to cope with the situation when the eyelid twitches. It is recommended to use these recipes regardless of which eye is affected, but subject to prior consultation with a doctor.

1. The choice of alternative treatment method also directly depends on the source of the problem causing the eyelid to twitch. In case of obvious disorders of the nervous system, adherents of traditional medicine recommend using a decoction of rose hips, which has a sedative and restorative effect. The average dosage of the product is no more than three cups per day. In addition, rosehip decoction is very rich in vitamin C.
2. The eyelid may twitch due to vitamin deficiency, in particular due to a lack of vitamin B6, a sufficient amount of which is present in figs to solve the problem. You can eat the fruit in its pure form, adding honey or sugar as a taste.
3. As a sedative, you can use the well-known infusion of valerian root, which is useful if the eyelid twitches. You should drink the decoction at night. Herbal tablets that require long-term use are also suitable, as well as alcohol drops, the effect of which is felt by the patient immediately.
4. Another option for a sedative is motherwort, which is also presented in pharmacy chains in several versions - dried form for preparing decoctions, a tablet for a course of administration, as well as alcohol drops with an instant calming effect.
5. As a local remedy for local action against nervous tics, you can use a compress of plantain, which should be applied directly to the eye. Pour boiling water over the crushed leaves, let cool and then wrap a little pasty mixture on the affected area for at least 15 minutes.

Alternative medicine recipes should be considered exclusively as auxiliary drugs and only in consultation with a doctor.

Other methods

Popular procedures such as acupuncture, restorative massage and therapeutic exercises can be considered as unconventional ways to quickly get rid of eye tics.

The use of medicinal needles, the action of which is directed to certain points in the body, has earned a certain niche among various therapeutic effects on the body. However, the use of this method is undesirable without the permission of a doctor.

Therapeutic massage will have a positive effect if the cause of eye twitching is tension caused by a stressful situation. Therapeutic eye exercises, which should be prescribed by an ophthalmologist after studying the history of the disease, will tone the eye muscles, which in turn will help avoid relapses.

Such an unpleasant phenomenon as twitching of the left or lower eyelid signals various problems in the body. The doctor can determine the exact source of the symptom and prescribe the correct treatment regimen after examination.