It usually comes out of nowhere. You’re reading a book or staring at the computer, when suddenly your eyelid starts quivering uncontrollably. It’s an unwelcome — and often annoying — occurrence. Eye twitching is a common condition for which most patients don’t require treatment. Some twitching has to do with your eyes themselves, while other twitching is more likely related to nerves and muscles in your face. While the exact cause of eye twitching isn’t known, it can be aggravated by a range of factors, including stress, eye strain, certain medications, caffeine, bright lights, dry eyes, and insufficient sleep. Some twitching can be an indicator that you may be lacking certain nutrients, such as Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, magnesium, iron, and electrolytes. Mild twitching of the eyelid can feel more noticeable than it actually is — observers are not likely to notice a twitching eyelid in another person. If eye twitching happens frequently or lasts more than a few minutes, you will need to consult your physician to see if there’s an underlying problem that needs to be addressed.
