Why does one eye blink or blink sometimes?

Surely you have ever experienced a kind of tremor in the eyelid of one eye that appears suddenly. Although it can sometimes be annoying, these "throbbing" in the eye usually last no more than a few seconds or, at most, minutes. You notice it quite a bit, but for others it is practically imperceptible.

You can rest assured, what happens to you has a first and last name: orbicular myokymia. It is very common in the population and it is a sudden and involuntary spasm, which is rarely serious.

Also, you should not worry too much, because it is usually a "flutter" that disappears on its own. But, what are these tremors due to? Although they are not associated with a specific cause, it is known that they can be caused by the mixture of many factors which accompany us every day.

Today we will explain what it consists of, what its causes are and what you can do to mitigate this annoying flickering.

What is orbicular myokymia?

It is a condition that causes eyelids tremble involuntarily. It is caused by benign contractions of the orbicularis muscle, the muscle responsible for closing the eyelids. They correspond to fine and continuous movements as a consequence of small electrical discharges of a nerve associated with the orbicularis muscle and they occur without the need for movements of the eyelids.

Orbicular myokymia usually occurs only in one of the eyelids and, more frequently, in the lower one. Generally, this type of tremor does not completely close the eye and does not usually persist for a long time, which is why it is considered a benign condition.

It must be taken into account that the eyelid muscle works practically all the time that a person remains awake and that we blink about 9,600 times a day (provided we sleep eight hours). If we are tired, stressed and do not sleep the necessary hours, the working time of the eyelid muscle increases and, consequently, it suffers from abnormalities.

However, if this heartbeat becomes constant or causes the eye to close, it is advisable to visit the specialist, since it could be a more serious muscular or neurological disorder, such as blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm.

What are your causes?

Myochemy is associated with factors and conditions that influence muscle activity in some way or another. Let's see what its causes may be.

1. Stress

One of the main causes of these tremors is stress, this modern-day disease that accompanies so many people. When a person is stressed they produce more epinephrine, a molecule that prepares the body for action. This state of muscle arousal it can manifest itself in small contractions or spasms. For this reason, these tremors are often seen as a sign that the person in question is undergoing stress.

2. Dry eyes

Although it is less frequent, a deficit of tears in the eye or that these are of lower quality can cause irritation of the cornea or conjunctiva. Consequently, this can cause an increase in involuntary blinking (to provide more moisture to the eye) and the eye ends up throbbing.

3. Strain your eyes

Overwork, especially that done in front of the computer, can also cause the eye to start to tremble. Also, forcing your eyes to look at a short distance also does not help as it requires a superior focus effort compared to that used in distant vision.

4. Lack of sleep

Tiredness can be another reason why these tremors appear. Sleeping is an essential act to rest the ocular surface and make relax muscles Of the eye.

5. Abusing electronic screens

As we have commented in point 3, spending more time than is due looking at bright screens such as the computer, tablet, mobile or television can lead to the appearance of these twitching of the eyelids. For this reason, it is necessary to take periodic breaks from electronic devices.

6. Poorly corrected visual defects

If we need to wear glasses but we don't wear them or these are poorly graduated, we strain our eyes more and therefore the muscles of the eye as well. This leads to a greater chance of suffering from this myokymia. The solution in this case is as simple as making correct use of the glasses or going back to the optometrist to have the prescription of the lenses checked.

7. Excess consumption of stimulant drinks

Drinking too much coffee, tea, or other stimulant substances can be a trigger for these tremors. According to experts, caffeine boosts the release of excitatory neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine, so it increases the reactivity within the muscles and nerves. The consumption of tobacco and alcohol, being also stimulants, are considered predisposing factors in the same way.

8. A bad diet

Although not yet proven, it is believed that lack of essential vitamins, such as B12 or minerals such as magnesium or potassium, can cause involuntary spasms in the muscles, including those of the eyelids.

9. Eye allergies

Allergies can cause itchy, red, or watery eyes. This invites you to rub your eyes, which makes it release histamine into the eye and consequently cause the eyelid to tremble.

How can we avoid orbicular myokymia?

Fortunately, orbicular myokymia corresponds to a benign pathology, and in most cases, the symptoms disappear spontaneously.

Even so, although there is no treatment as such to remedy it, there are a series of tips that can help them disappear. These are closely related to the causative factors and are the following:

1. Take a break

As we have already mentioned, myokymia can appear as a response to fatigue, so take a good rest and enjoy a restful sleep it can help the tremors go away. Likewise, it is also recommended to rest in sight by taking periodic breaks when we use electronic devices such as computers and mobile phones.

2. Try to reduce the volume of stress

If it is not possible to eliminate what causes us stress, it is recommended to practice activities that help reduce it. Either practicing sport and other relaxing activities or using relaxation techniques.

3. Avoid caffeine and tobacco

While stimulants such as caffeine and tobacco can promote these tremors, avoid or at least moderate using these substances can help.

4. Reduce dry eyes

In the event that palpitations are caused by irritation or dry eyes, it is recommended to do use of eye drops or artificial drops. Likewise, they also recommend parking the lenses in favor of glasses (they dry out the eye less) and use indirect or natural light whenever possible.

If the symptoms do not disappear spontaneously and appear persistently or progressively increase, it is advisable to consult an ophthalmologist to evaluate a possible treatment and rule out other associated pathologies.

5. Eye self-massage

You can try an eye massage to relax your eyes. This consists of vigorously rubbing the palms of the hands and placing them for a few minutes over both eyes closed, trying to get the hand to rest gently on the eyeball.

Pathologies associated with involuntary blinking

In most cases, the tremors generated by orbicular myokymia are harmless and do not affect vision in any way. However, there are some neurological problems that can cause the eyelid muscles to contract. These are other more serious and much less common conditions, such as blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm.

These no longer occur with small tremors, but with more energetic spasms, of longer duration and that usually cause the eyelids to close more completely, so they can prevent or hinder vision.

Blepharospasm is one of the most common facial dystonias and can be caused by a neurological disorder functional in the central nervous system, due to side effects of medications or lack of lubrication of the ocular surface.

Instead, hemifacial spasm affects the muscles on one side of the face causing irregular and progressive involuntary movements that can also affect the eye. Its origin lies in the compression of the facial nerve.

In the most serious and chronic cases, treatments based on botulinum toxin injections (better known as botox), which causes relaxation of the eyelid muscles. There are other options as well, such as a surgical technique called orbicularis muscle myectomy. Through this surgery, the muscle fibers of the eyelid are totally or partially eliminated, thus reducing involuntary movements.

When should I go to the ophthalmologist?

In the event that you experience the following symptoms, you should go to the specialist for an ophthalmological examination:

• Involuntary movements are maintained for a week.
• The spasms cause the eyelids to close completely.
• There is difficulty keeping the eyes open during the day.
• You experience tremors in other areas of the face (apart from the eye area).
• Spasms occur in both eyes at the same time.
• There is redness, swelling, or discharge from one eye.
• You have a family history of illnesses related to these symptoms.