# Help! Why is my eye twitching? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 24, 2003, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987 "2003-11-24T11:08:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/1 "2003-11-24T11:08:32Z")
My eyelid and sometimes the skin around my eyesocket have develped a twitch. It goes on for a minute or two then stops, often a few times a day. Its kinda irritating and I’ve no idea why its doin this. What’s my body up to, this is driving me mad?! ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/2 "2003-11-24T11:23:23Z")
It’s called a ‘tic’ and results from a sort of electrical hyperactivity in the nerves that causes the muscles around the eye (or in other areas of the body as well) to twitch. Stop panicking…it’s not harmful. Enjoy it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![T.Mehr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@T.Mehr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Mehr)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/3 "2003-11-24T11:26:52Z")
Don’t want to make you nervouse, but check for Tourette-Syndrom on the net. Doesn’t mean you got it, though. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/4 "2003-11-24T11:34:14Z")
Tourette’s is a _little_ more involved than a simple muscle twitch **T. Mehr**. :rolleyes: Sorry to be disdainful of your suggestion, but there is no reason to suspect such a relatively rare condition when the only ‘symptom’ is one that 99% of the population experience at some time in their lives. ---
**Author:** ![T.Mehr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@T.Mehr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Mehr)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/5 "2003-11-24T11:46:33Z")
You are probably right, \*\*kambuckta. \*\* So, sorry **Pushkin** , don’t panic. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/6 "2003-11-24T11:51:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kambuckta \* > \*\*It’s called a ‘tic’ and results from a sort of electrical hyperactivity in the nerves that causes the muscles around the eye (or in other areas of the body as well) to twitch. > > Stop panicking…it’s not harmful. Enjoy it. 😛 \*\* Ok, thought I wasn’t eating enough fruit and fibre or something like that 😛 Sit back and enjoy it then? Ok 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jjpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@jjpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjpet)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/7 "2003-11-24T13:11:33Z")
I got that when I started taking Valium, and still have it occasionally since switching to Xanax. Don’t know whether if it’s that or the stress I take that stuff for in the first place, but I only noticed it when starting the meds. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/8 "2003-11-24T13:12:30Z")
For what it’s worth, my eye twitches when I’m overly tired. ---
**Author:** ![FriendRob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecc23a/32.png) [@FriendRob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriendRob)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/9 "2003-11-24T14:04:20Z")
Happens if I drink too much coffee. ---
**Author:** ![sinical\_brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@sinical\_brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinical_brit)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/10 "2003-11-24T14:06:17Z")
Mine did it for about 6weeks and drove me mad. Someone suggested taking vitamin B - i did and it stopped a week later. This may have been a coincidence but it hasnt happened since ! the other method is get more sleep ! sinical ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/11 "2003-11-24T15:14:59Z")
I get this when I’m overly tired. I find that pinching my eyelid between my fingers usually helps. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/12 "2003-11-24T15:17:43Z")
OK, so long as I don’t have to resort to Valium I think I’ll be ok 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bimble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@Bimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bimble)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/13 "2003-11-24T15:32:29Z")
Ah… I’ve had a twitch in my left eyelid for about two or so years… If I’m stressed it gets worse, (or if I drive without my sunglasses on) because for some WIERD reason, I tend to “scrunch” that eye up when I’m panicky (and I can be panicky for DAYS if Ye Olde Work Schedule goes a bit potty!!) Try this lot: [http://hfs-assn.org/](http://hfs-assn.org/) (The Hemifacial Spasm Society) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![alimarx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@alimarx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alimarx)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/14 "2003-11-24T20:42:32Z")
FWIW, for me it happens during orgasm. ---
**Author:** ![Indefatigable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9d8465/32.png) [@Indefatigable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indefatigable)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/15 "2003-11-24T20:56:05Z")
My karate instructor once told me that muscle cramps (such as charley horses) and twitches can be caused by a potassium deficiency. You could try eating more bananas. ---
**Author:** ![Flash-57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/839c29/32.png) [@Flash-57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flash-57)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/16 "2003-11-24T21:01:50Z")
Does anyone know why eating something really sour can also get those eyelids twitching? ---
**Author:** ![BlackPheonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BlackPheonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackPheonix)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/17 "2003-11-24T21:14:37Z")
Yeah, I knew someone who knew that stuff and yes, vitamin B will do the trick usually. They say it can also be the early stages of seizures and the like if its related to flashing light… ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/18 "2003-11-24T21:30:24Z")
I get these, and also sometimes it happens in the thumb flexor of my right hand. I asked my physician about it, and he said it is usually due to an electrolyte imbalance… the most important electrolytes are sodium, potassium, and calcium… the imbalance can be caused by malnutrition, dehydration, or toxicity. The doc said that it can sometimes be a hangover symptom, too (an example of toxicity). So, eat a banana and have a glass of milk every day, drink plenty of water, and cut back on the booze. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/19 "2003-11-24T21:37:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alimarx \* > \*\*FWIW, for me it happens during orgasm. \*\* So how do you manage to put up with 20-30 eye twitchings per week? 🙂 V ---
**Author:** ![alimarx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@alimarx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alimarx)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987/20 "2003-11-24T21:49:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Vetch \* > \*\*So how do you manage to put up with 20-30 eye twitchings per week? 🙂 > V \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pushkin \* > \*\*Sit back and enjoy it then? Ok 🙂 \*\* 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-why-is-my-eye-twitching/214987.md?page=2)