Tremor in the eye: why it happens and when to worry

Do you have a tremor in your eye?

Quiet, although you notice it a lot, for others it is practically imperceptible. What happens to you is called palpebral myokymia and it is a sudden and involuntary spasm, which does not endanger your eyes and which disappears on its own. We explain what its main causes are and how to remedy it.

Eye fatigue

Just as we are tired, our eyes also get tired. This tiredness may be due to wearing the wrong prescription glasses or contact lenses, or because the eyes are working too hard.

Strain your eyes

Spending a lot of time in front of a screen can also cause tremors in the eyelid, since you are constantly looking at close range, “which causes –explains Dr. Mª José Capella from the Barraquer Clinic– an effort to focus higher than that used in the distant vision ”.

Everyday stress

It is one of the main reasons for the tremor in the eye. Reducing stress is often key to making these eyelid spasms go away.

Do you want to reduce stress in seconds? Place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest. Breathe in slowly, so that the air fills your stomach first and then works its way up. Take a break. Then release the air little by little, first emptying the chest and ending with the stomach.

Lack of sleep

Tiredness is another of the great reasons why tremors appear in the eyelids. Lack of sleep is often the source of this fatigue, so a good night's rest can solve the problem of tremors.

Eye allergy

Eye allergy usually manifests with itching, swelling and tearing. This invites you to rub your eyes, causing histamine to be released into the eye and histamine can cause the eyelid to tremble.

Eye dryness

Working with computers, some medications such as antihistamines and antidepressants, poor sleep, the use of contact lenses, and excessive consumption of caffeine and alcohol can cause dry eyes which, in turn, can lead to tremors in the eyes. To combat it, do not expose yourself to drafts, use room humidifiers and, if you wear contact lenses, follow the instructions for use and cleaning.

You lack magnesium

Magnesium deficiency is suspected to be related to these eyelid tremors. The daily intake of magnesium in adults should be 320 mg / day. But in some cases (pregnancy, stress, a lot of sport), more is needed. Whatever your case, it is very easy to include foods rich in magnesium in your diet, and some are delicious, like chocolate.

Overdoing the caffeine

Taking too much caffeine or any other type of exciting substance can be the trigger for the tremor in the eye. If you tend to consume a lot of coffee, tea, chocolate, and caffeinated sodas, try drinking less for 10 days to see if your spasms are reduced.

How to remove the tremor in the eyelid

Take eye breaks. If you work with a computer, always sit at a distance of half a meter and with it at eye level. Take breaks from visual activity every hour by getting up from your desk or staring at distant objects. Keep your eyes lubricated with normal blinking or artificial tears if necessary.

Self-massage to remove tremors in the eye

Self-massage to remove tremor in the eye

Rub your palms vigorously and place them for a few minutes over both closed eyes so that the center of the hand rests gently on the eyeball. You will notice a pleasant sensation, as if the eyes were revitalized. Do it a few times a day.

Quick and easy eye exercise.

Roll your eyes keeping your head still: first to the left, then to the right, tracing circles.

Far and near

To take visual breaks, look at the tip of your finger for a few seconds and then towards the horizon, relaxing your eyes. Alternate near vision (looking at your fingertip) and distant vision (getting lost in the horizon) a few minutes a day.

That annoying tremor in the eyelid that you notice –and which is practically imperceptible to those around you– is called palpebral myokymia and it is a sudden and involuntary spasm –which cannot be controlled– and that disappears by itself. This tremor, which can occur in both the lower and upper eyelids, although it is more frequent in the latter, is not accompanied by pain or changes in vision. We show you what the main causes are and how to remedy them.

1. Suffering from eye strain

Just as we are tired, our eyes are too. This fatigue may be due to wearing the wrong prescription on glasses or contact lenses or because the eyes are working too hard.

Another cause is spending a lot of time in front of a screen (computer, mobile …) since you are constantly looking at a short distance, "which causes - explains Dr. Mª José Capella from the Barraquer Clinic - an effort to focus on the you use in distant vision ”.

If you work with a computer, always sit at a distance of half a meter and with it at eye level. Take breaks from visual activity every hour by getting up from your desk or staring at distant objects. Keep your eyes lubricated with normal blinking or artificial tears if necessary.

2. Everyday stress

It is one of the main reasons for the tremor in the eye. Reducing stress is often key to making these eyelid spasms go away.

Trick to reduce stress in seconds: Place one hand on the stomach and the other on the chest. Breathe in slowly so that the air fills your stomach first and then works its way up. Pause. Then release the air little by little, first emptying the chest and ending with the stomach.

3. Lack of sleep

Tiredness is another of the great reasons why tremors appear in the eyelids. Lack of sleep is often the source of this fatigue, so a good night's rest can solve the problem of tremors.

4. Eye dryness

To combat dry eyes, do not expose yourself to drafts that favor tear evaporation: do not direct heaters or fans towards your face and do not drive with the windows open. Also, avoid the wind in the field or the beach, household dust, tobacco smoke or solvents. At home, use room humidifiers. If you wear contact lenses, scrupulously follow the instructions for use and cleaning. In case of working with computers, take breaks and try to blink more often.

5. Eye allergy

Eye allergy usually manifests with itching, swelling and tearing. This invites you to rub your eyes, which causes histamine to be released into the eye and the histamine can cause the eyelid to tremble.

6. Have a magnesium deficiency

Although there are still not enough scientific studies to support it, it is suspected that the magnesium deficit is related to these tremors in the eyelids. Do you need an extra contribution? The daily intake of magnesium in adults should be 320 mg / day. But there are special cases:

People who do a lot of sports or who do great physical efforts need more magnesium.
The same happens to people who suffer from chronic stress, since in this situation, the consumption of this nutrient shoots up.
Another cause of magnesium deficiency is following low-calorie diets or consuming too much alcohol.
People with diabetes may also need an extra supply.

7. An excess of caffeine

Taking too much caffeine or any other type of exciting substance can be the trigger for a tremor in the eyelid. If you tend to drink a lot of coffee, tea, chocolate, and caffeinated sodas, try drinking less for 10 days to see if your spasms are reduced.

How to remove tremor on the eyelid

If the tremor is temporary, try to apply the measures that we have described: rest, drink less coffee and more magnesium and take visual breaks. If, despite taking these measures, the tremor in the eyelid does not disappear, request a visit with an ophthalmologist.
If the spasm is persistent and bothersome, go to an ophthalmologist as you probably need to graduate your eyesight better.

Eye massage to relax your eyes

Self-massage. Rub your palms vigorously and place them for a few minutes over both closed eyes so that the center of your hand rests gently on the eyeball. You will notice a pleasant sensation, as if the eyes were revitalized. Do it a few times a day.
It is advisable to rest your eyes every ten minutes. Close your eyes for ten seconds every 10 minutes while reading, watching TV, or working on the computer.
A very beneficial trick. Blink hard 3 times in a row, several times a day, which helps decongest the eyes.
Quick and easy eye exercise. Roll your eyes keeping your head still: first to the left, then to the right, tracing circles.