[Medical Q&A] Is eyelid twitching a disease?

Author: Chen Guoqiang, Chief Physician of Aviation General Hospital

Reviewer: Xu Jun, Chief Physician, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University

Eyelid twitching may be physiological, but it may also be a disease!

There is a circle of orbicularis oculi muscle around our eyelids that controls blinking. If it is exposed to some adverse stimulation, such as tension, stress, lack of sleep, lack of nutrients, etc., it may cause the muscle nerves to send signals, stimulate the orbicularis oculi muscle to contract, and cause eyelid twitching. This is physiological eyelid twitching. When you relax your mind, eat a proper diet, and get enough rest, the eyelid twitching will naturally get better. But there are also some diseases that can cause eyelid twitching.

1. Dry eyes: can cause eye discomfort and sometimes eyelid twitching.

2. Eye diseases: Eye diseases such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, etc. may also be accompanied by symptoms of eyelid twitching.

3. Neurological diseases: In some cases, eyelid twitching may be a manifestation of neurological diseases such as hemifacial spasm. In terms of incidence, the incidence of hemifacial spasm is not low. According to foreign statistics, its annual incidence is about 0.8/100,000. According to foreign statistics, it is estimated that about 10,000 people in my country suffer from hemifacial spasm every year. In terms of the onset population, it is more common in young and middle-aged people. Children also suffer from hemifacial spasm, but rarely.

In summary, in most cases, eyelid twitching is temporary and can be alleviated by adjusting lifestyle habits. However, if eyelid twitching lasts for a long time (more than 1 week) or is accompanied by other symptoms (such as decreased vision, facial muscle twitching, etc.), it is recommended to seek medical attention and undergo relevant examinations in time to rule out underlying diseases.