In the vast majority of cases, this twitching is benign.
Who hasn’t already had a twitching eyelid? This very common symptom is medically called “fasciculation”. In the vast majority of cases, it is benign and comes from involuntary contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle. The phenomenon only lasts a few seconds and usually affects one eye at a time. If it lasts, perhaps we need to pay more attention to it. Explanations with Doctor Richard Handschuh, general practitioner.
A sign of a deficiency?
Certain deficiencies, such as magnesium, can in fact explain the tremor of the eyelid. Magnesium is a trace element essential for the proper functioning of nerves and muscles. Its lack can influence the nerves and muscles and therefore cause the eye to “pop”. If you think you lack magnesium, focus on mineral waters which contain the most, as well as dark chocolate, oilseeds (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds) or whole grains.
Eye fatigue?
A trembling eyelid can be a sign of visual or ocular fatigue, following overuse of the eyes or too much screen time. To counter this eye fatigue, consider taking breaks if you work in front of a screen: the National Institute for Research and Safety (INRS) recommends taking a break of at least 5 minutes every hour if the screen task is intensive or a quarter of an hour every 2 hours if the task is less. During these breaks, you must leave the workstation and move to break the static posture. You can also massage the eyelids using small circular movements.
Lack of sleep?
Lack of sleep is a reason that can explain why you have a popping eye, or even two. Even more so if – in addition to not getting enough sleep – you are very/too stressed. As a solution, you can start by relaxing as much as possible (through breathing exercises or yoga) and going to bed earlier in order to aim for at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. At the same time, you will avoid or reduce the consumption of caffeine which contributes to twitching of the eyelids and the intensive practice of sport (especially before sleeping).
A more serious illness…
In very rare cases, eyelid tremor can be the precursor symptom of a neurological disease (such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis – ALS also called “Charcot’s disease”) or a sign of damage to the facial nerves.
A sign of stroke?
A twitching eyelid is generally not a sign of cardiovascular disease such as a stroke.
When to worry and consult?
There is no medical treatment for fasciculations. If the tremor persists for several weeks despite the elimination of the triggering factors, do not hesitate to consult your doctor to verify that it is indeed a simple fasciculation. He will be able to carry out an exclusion diagnosis in which he will verify that it is not another, more severe pathology. An electromyogram can be performed to visualize what are called “fasculation potentials”. Exercise tests can also be carried out to look for muscle weakness.
