Ophthalmologist talks about eye diseases: Does eyelid twitching mean facial paralysis?

Eyelid twitching is something that everyone is very concerned about

As the old saying goes: Left eye twitching brings good luck, right eye twitching brings disaster

But this is definitely not scientifically true.

But there is one saying that seems to make sense.

Eyelid twitching means you may have facial paralysis!!!

Eyelid twitching involuntarily

Feeling of having no muscle control

Doesn’t facial paralysis also feel like a loss of control of facial muscles?

Does eyelid twitching indicate facial paralysis?

Today we have invited Zhao Min, deputy chief physician, deputy leader of the orbital and ocular plastic surgery group of Aier Eye Hospital Group, and assistant director of the eyelid and orbital disease/ocular plastic surgery department of Aier Eye Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University (Aier Eye Hospital Group Hubei General Hospital) to talk to you about eyelid twitching.

In most cases

Eye twitching is not a big problem

The scientific name of eyelid twitching is "eyelid tremor", which is caused by repeated contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle in the eyelid. It is a common clinical symptom in ophthalmology. Generally speaking, there are two main reasons for eyelid twitching:

1. Overuse of eyes, fatigue, excessive stress, or mental tension (this is the reason for most eyelid twitching);

2. Caused by eye diseases, such as refractive error, eye inflammation, etc.

It can be seen that eyelid twitching has little to do with facial paralysis, so there is no need to worry. However, it cannot be ignored. Eye twitching is an early warning indicator of eye health, telling the owner of the eye that there is something wrong with the eye. Most people's eyelid twitching is caused by excessive use of the eyes. Therefore, you should give your eyes enough rest time to recover, or relax your eyes through massage and hot compress. Remember not to add more burden to your eyes.

These situations should be treated

Usually, eyelid twitching will disappear on its own after a period of rest, so there is no need to worry. However, if you have the following conditions, it may be pathological eyelid twitching and you must be alert:

1. Eyelid twitching for more than a week without relief;

2. If your eyes are accompanied by decreased vision, red and swollen eyes, or easy tears, you may have some eye disease.

3. While the eye twitches continue for a long time, muscles in other parts of the face may also twitch.

Director Zhao Min reminds: If the patient experiences eyelid twitching but cannot tell which condition it is, it is recommended that the patient go directly to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment by a doctor, which is safer.