Why does my eyelid twitch?

A lid twitch more often than not is a benign, albeit annoying, occurrence.

Eyelid myokymia occurs when the orbicularis oculi muscle of the eye spontaneously contracts. The lower eyelid is most frequently involved, and usually only one eye is affected.

Common causes for this type of lid twitch are:

-eye irritation

-dry eyes

-lack of sleep

-stress

-caffeine

-alcohol

-bright lights

Typically treatment is unnecessary other than avoiding the triggers indicated above as this condition resolves on its own after a few hours and maybe even a few days. If the twitching is painful, lasts longer than a few days, or interferes with your quality of life, it is a good idea to schedule an evaluation with your eye doctor.