
In some cases, an eyelid twitch is caused by physical injury or irritation to the eye itself, rather than nerve irritation or neurological dysfunction. Tourette syndrome may also involve a more repetitive, patterned eyelid twitch that will likely be accompanied by at least one other motor or vocal tic. However, a person affected by one of these disorders would also experience many other telling symptoms, such as cognitive difficulties, tremors, or difficulty moving around. People with neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, may also experience eyelid spasms. Most cases develop as a side effect of long-term antipsychotic medication use.
Tardive dyskinesia: This is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary writhing of the tongue, mouth, or lips, as well as increased blink rate. Meige Syndrome: This is a rare neurological disorder that involves simultaneous spasms in the cheeks, mouth, tongue, and neck. Most scientists believe it to be brought on by a viral infection. Bell’s Palsy: This disorder causes temporary paralysis on one side of the face due to inflammation or trauma of the facial nerves. Other motor disorders that share characteristics with benign blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm include: Share on Pinterest An eyelid twitch may occur if the eyelid is inflamed. hemifacial spasms can last anywhere from several days to a few months. some people will hear a clicking sound in the ear on the affected side of the head. hemifacial spasms tend to be consistent in intensity. a person may experience facial muscle weakness between contractions. the condition will usually affect one eye. Some other differences that might be useful in telling hemifacial spasm apart from blepharospasm and basic eye twitch are: This irritation could happen if a neighboring blood vessel puts too much pressure on the nerve. Instead, researchers believe that hemifacial spasm is caused by irritation of the facial nerve. Hemifacial spasm is also a rare condition, but it is not caused by malfunction of any deep-brain structures. However, these spasms will eventually spread to other muscles on the same side of the face, causing the jaw, mouth, cheek, and neck muscles to contract spontaneously. Hemifacial spasm may initially be confused for a simple eye twitch as the condition usually begins by affecting the muscles surrounding the eye. the eyes become irritated in bright light and stressful situations. other muscles in the face experience spasms. The basal ganglia are involved in regulating motor function, and they play a significant role in inhibiting erratic movements.Īccording to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, essential blepharospasm has several early symptoms that can help to distinguish it from a basic twitch: Most believe that it is a combination of both environmental and genetic factors.Ī common theory is that these factors cause the brain’s basal ganglia to malfunction. Researchers are still unsure as to the causes of essential blepharospasm.
In some cases, the spasms become severe enough to squeeze the eyelids shut for hours at a time. It may initially appear similar to a basic eyelid twitch, but it can deteriorate if left untreated. The most common forms of chronic eyelid twitch are benign essential blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm.īenign essential blepharospasm is a rare neurological disorder that causes spasms and muscle contractions around the eyes.