A twitch in your eyelid might happen on occasion, often disappearing within the day, but the twitch might last a few days or a week as well. No matter the duration of the twitch, feeling and seeing your eyelid movement can distract you and make you self conscious, although people looking at you typically cannot see your eyelid twitch. If you have frequent or prolonged twitching, talk to your doctor about the role of vitamins in preventing or reducing the condition.
Cause
Eye twitches can occur because of stress, caffeine, alcohol and fatigue. In such cases, lifestyle changes such as a finding ways to reduce your stress, getting a good night's sleep and reducing intake of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages can help. However, conditions such as dry eye or a deficiency in magnesium also can cause eyelid twitches.
Vitamin A and Omega-3
Your eyes produce a nourishing tear film that coats the front surface of your eyes. Dry eye syndrome occurs when you do not have the amount of tears you need to adequately coat your eye's surface, or you might have dry eye if the tear film does not have the right consistency. In addition to burning, stinging and redness, people who suffer from dry eye also might experience an eyelid twitch.
Omega-3 fatty acids might have some effect on the inflammation that can occur with dry eye, and this nutrient could help eliminate or decrease discomfort as well as the twitching. Deficiencies in vitamin A can result in dry eye and, as a result, eyelid twitches. Your doctor can help you determine if these nutrients might help or cause the condition and can recommend daily supplements if necessary.
Magnesium
Magnesium has many functions throughout your body, including maintaining a steady heart rhythm, promoting healthy bones and keeping your immune system strong. Magnesium also helps your muscles function properly. A magnesium deficiency could cause muscle contractions and, in theory, this could affect the eyelid. If you have prolonged twitching or other symptoms, your doctor might recommend a blood test to determine how much magnesium you have in your blood. A low level could indicate the cause for the twitching and your doctor might recommend magnesium supplements each day until your levels return to normal.
Treatment
If you have eyelid twitching that lasts for a few hours, try taking a short nap or simply closing your eyes for a few minutes. Find ways to relax and ease your stress, as well as reducing your caffeine and alcohol intake, and these actions could help lessen the twitching. Artificial tears might offer relief from twitching resulting from dry eye that does not stem from a vitamin A deficiency. If you continue to experience twitching, have other symptoms or have a twitch that causes your eyelid to close completely, contact your eye doctor for an evaluation.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Eye Twitching; October 2010
- All About Vision; Eye Twitching and Eyelid Twitches; Burt Dubow, OD
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD
- Oregon State University; Linus Pauling Institute; Vitamin A; Jane Higdon, Ph.D.; December 2003
- Office of Dietary Supplements: National Institutes of Health: Magnesium
- All About Vision; Dry Eye Syndrome; Judith Lee, et al.
