What causes persistent eye twitching?

Generally, the causes of persistent eye twitching may include lack of sleep, mental stress, eye strain, conjunctivitis, and facial nerve irritation. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment under a doctor's guidance. The specific causes are analyzed as follows:

1. Lack of Sleep

Under normal circumstances, the nerves and muscles of the eye can relax during sleep. However, insufficient sleep keeps the eyes in a state of tension or fatigue, preventing them from resting and potentially causing functional abnormalities that lead to eye twitching. It is recommended to ensure adequate sleep time in daily life to relieve symptoms.

2. Mental Stress

When experiencing anxiety, pressure, or emotional excitement, the body enters a state of stress. This condition can affect the regulation of the nervous system, altering the excitability of nerves that control the eye muscles, causing orbicularis oculi muscle spasms and resulting in eye twitching. Reducing mental stress through activities such as mountain climbing or talking with friends can help alleviate this condition.

3. Eye Strain

Prolonged use of the eyes keeps the ciliary muscles and orbicularis oculi muscles in a constant state of contraction. Continuous muscle tension may lead to spasms, resulting in eye twitching. This symptom usually improves after sufficient rest. Maintaining good eye habits in daily life, such as periodically rotating the eyes or looking into the distance, can benefit eye health.

4. Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis can be caused by viral infections or allergies, which may irritate the eye's nerves and muscles, leading to conjunctival congestion and edema. This irritation can also stimulate surrounding nerve endings, causing reflexive muscle contractions that result in eye twitching. Follow medical advice to use medications such as sodium cromoglicate eye drops, olopatadine hydrochloride eye drops, and emedastine difumarate eye drops for treatment.

5. Facial Nerve Irritation

Exposure of the face to cold wind or trauma may cause temporary dysfunction of the facial nerve, affecting its normal control of the eye muscles and causing involuntary contractions of the orbicularis oculi muscle, resulting in eye twitching. Medical treatment under a doctor's guidance may include medications such as mecobalamin tablets, procaine hydrochloride injection, and vitamin B1 tablets.

In daily life, it is advisable to avoid eye irritation from strong light, wind, sand, and similar factors by wearing sunglasses or protective goggles to safeguard the eyes.