# Why Does My Eyelid Keep Twitching? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424 "2004-07-16T15:08:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/1 "2004-07-16T15:08:37Z")
Lately, I’ve noticed that the bottom eyelid of my left eye has started twitching periodically. In each case the twitching occurs at a frequency of roughly 2.5 Hz., and typically lasts for a duration of about 3-5 seconds. When I looked at myself in the mirror while this was happening, I noted exactly where this was taking place. But when I then tried to replicate the twitch voluntarily I was unable to do so, so I am certain that I am not willfully engaging in this behavior. What could be causing this, and what can be done to prevent it? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![bodswood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@bodswood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodswood)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/2 "2004-07-16T15:33:51Z")
I sometimes suffer similar symptoms, surreal, also in my left eye, but as far as I can recall in the upper lid. I think it must be stress related - I sometimes get it when I go into GD - but know of no cure. If it gets really bad, I suppose I could earn a bob or two doing impressions of Dreyfuss from of Pink Panther fame. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/3 "2004-07-16T15:38:24Z")
I get this, too, with my top eyelid though. It scares me a little…I don’t want to be one of those people whom you can’t watch while you talk to them because I have a twitch! If anyone can answer this it’d be great. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/4 "2004-07-16T15:38:47Z")
I got that one during a particularly stressful period of my life; now I can tell when I´m going through a stressful situation because my bottom right eyelid twitches. A complete give away I must tell. ---
**Author:** ![Ottoerotic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6de8d8/32.png) [@Ottoerotic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ottoerotic)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/5 "2004-07-16T15:43:21Z")
You’re not alone, the only time my eyelid ever twitches is when I’m stressed out. For the record its the upper eyelid usually on my right eye. ---
**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/6 "2004-07-16T16:01:24Z")
I get the same thing when stress & lack of sleep get past a certain point - in fact my eye has been doing that for 3 days now. I will have a very mellow weekend to compensate for the past 2 week’s stress. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/7 "2004-07-16T17:33:24Z")
A steady diet of caffeine and/or lack of sleep can also attribute to this effect, as I can attest to…when I cut back or sleep longer hours for a few days in a row, the “fluttering” goes away. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/8 "2004-07-16T18:04:12Z")
I first noticed that I was a “twitcher” back when I was taking my senior finals in high school. Totally a stress/fatigue thing for me. They rarely all go at once, but I suffer it in both eyes, top and bottom lids. ---
**Author:** ![xvxdarkknightxvx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/34f0e0/32.png) [@xvxdarkknightxvx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xvxdarkknightxvx)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/9 "2004-07-16T18:11:07Z")
Try eating fruit. This used to happen to me all the time, sometimes continuing for a half hour at a time, and I think eating fruits helped. Probably the vitamin C in it. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/10 "2004-07-16T18:20:36Z")
I had an upper eyelid twitch for three months or so. I thought at the time it was because I had an eyebrow piercing on that side that wouldn’t heal (I was allergic to the metal). Looking back, it was stress. ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/11 "2004-07-16T18:27:46Z")
(but obviously weren’t afraid to ask) [http://www.blepharospasm.org/](http://www.blepharospasm.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Astacey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Astacey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astacey)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/12 "2004-07-16T18:41:54Z")
Every time I have been pregnant, I get those twitches off and on for the first trimester. Probably from being so tired, in my case. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/13 "2004-07-16T18:46:40Z")
ANother one chiming in to suggest strass and/or tiredness. It happens to me at times, although I never was scientific enough to measure in in Hertz! (Top eylid of lef t eye in my case, but I shoudl think it comes down to the same thing. Apart from short sight and slight astigmatism, no optician has ever worried me about anythign wrong with my eyes, so I find the twich irritating, and I feel silly, but I don’t worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/14 "2004-07-16T23:02:59Z")
> [@Ottoerotic](#): > > You’re not alone, the only time my eyelid ever twitches is when I’m stressed out. For the record its the upper eyelid usually on my right eye. Freaky, I get the same twitch. Are you sure you’re not my sock puppet? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/15 "2004-07-17T00:10:55Z")
Clouseau! ---
**Author:** ![bodswood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@bodswood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodswood)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/16 "2004-07-17T01:47:54Z")
Clouseau gave Dreyfuss the twitch, non, my leetle scaley friend? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/17 "2004-07-17T02:49:55Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Freaky, I get the same twitch. Are you sure you’re not my sock puppet? But mine is also upper eyelid, right eye. (gasp) are we all the same person? ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-eyelid-keep-twitching/255424/18 "2004-07-17T06:24:25Z")
You can get rid of it with calcium/magnesium, taken daily, and a small glass of tonic water, drunk before bedtime.