Does anyone get eye spasms?

Question

Well, when I'm pretty tired, I can be looking at something, then all of a sudden my eye will stray out of my control for a second! Any one else get that?

Answer 1

The three most common types of eyelid spasms are eyelid twitch, essential blepharospasm, and hemifacial spasm.

Eyelid Twitch.
The cause of minor eyelid twitching is unknown. A slight spasm of the lower eyelid or even both eyelids is common and of no concern.

Essential Blepharospasm.
An involuntary condition usually involving both eyes, where the eyelids, and sometimes the eyebrows, close involuntarily. In advanced cases of essential blepharospasm, muscles of the mouth or neck are sometimes involved in these spasms. When these spasms occur, temporary inability to see may result because of the involuntary eyelid closure. These spasms are rare but very troublesome, and often incapacitating. Blepharospasm is caused by abnormal nerve impulses producing muscle spasms, and almost never a psychiatric disease.

Hemifacial Spasm.
Hemifacial spasm is a condition which involves the eyelid muscles and usually the muscles around the mouth, but on only one side of the face. Hemifacial spasm is usually caused by an artery pressing on the nerve to the facial muscles causing the face to twitch.
Symptoms

Twitching or spasm around the eyes
Facial spasms

The symptoms described above may not necessarily mean that you have eyelid spasms. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your eye doctor for a complete exam.
Treatment

Eyelid Twitch.
Minor eyelid twitches require no treatment as they usually resolve spontaneously. Reducing stress, using warm soaks, or correction of any refractive error may help. Some ophthalmologists recommend reducing caffeine usage.

Blepharospasm.
Can be treated with medications, biofeedback, injection of botulinum and surgery. Medications and biofeedback are rarely successful in managing blepharospasm, but may be advised in mild cases or cases not responding to other treatment. Botulinum injections are now the most commonly recommended treatment for blepharospasm. Injection of botulinum (botulism toxin) in very small quantities into the muscles around the eyes will relax the spasm. The injection works for several months, but will slowly wear off and usually needs to be repeated. The treatment is very successful with few side-effects. On those rare occasions when side-effects do occur, they include drooping of the eyelids, double vision or dryness of the eye, but they all subside as the injection wears off. Your ophthalmologist may suggest surgery to remove either the nerve causing the spasm or the spastic muscles themselves. The surgical results are generally permanent and any side-effects are also usually permanent.

Hemifacial Spasm.
Botulinum injections may be beneficial in relieving the eyelid spasms in patients with hemifacial spasm. A neurosurgical procedure for hemifacial spasm may relieve the pressure of the artery on the nerve. While it is generally successful, it is a major neurosurgical operation and serious complications are possible

Answer 2

any time you over exsert you eye muscle you can get a muscle spasm. It happens more with people that where glasses. If it happen more over lets say a 3 month period could be a sign that there is a deterioration of the muscle and you should go to a optimists

Answer 3

Yes all the time the cause of this is unknown but it'sno cause of concern i've been told especially if it only happens when you are tired as this is probably just your eyes telling you they want time out.

Answer 4

I've never had that, but once I blew my nose so hard that I felt air come out from behind my eye and it freaked me out bad! But honestly I think you might want to ask a doctor about that, I have never had that happen, and I've had bad eyesight and been wearing glasses for a long time.

Answer 5

It's caused by a mineral imbalance in the nerve tissue, there is nothing you can do but ride it out or maybe close your eyes for a few minutes. It's normal, not serious but can be annoying!

Answer 6

Yes

Answer 7

not exactly but very similar. Had it since i was about 5yrs old, when i had a form of myxomatosis apparently. Ask your parents, maybe you had some sort of eye infection when you where young causing you to be more prone to this sort of problem. x x

Answer 8

I get them in my eye lids sometimes. I looked at myself in the mirror once and it looked like two tiny caterpillars crawling along the ends (upper and lower) of my eye lids.

Answer 9

yea .. My eye twitches a bit after being online an looking at this Glowing Box for so long !

Answer 10

I actually get eye spasms all the time...still don't know what it is though.