Causes of Eye Jitter

Eye jitter, commonly known as eye twitching, is an involuntary eyelid movement that occurs a few times a second over a certain period of time, according to the Mayo Clinic. The twitching is actually a spasm of the eyelid and is not generally painful. In fact, eye jitter is mostly harmless, and is usually little more than a nuisance. However, in rare instances, eye twitching, along with other facial spasms, may be a precursor to a chronic movement disorder.

Common Causes

• Eye jitter can happen to anybody at any time without cause. However, there are several factors that may cause twitching to occur more frequently. Excessive use of alcohol and/or caffeine and smoking are common causes of eye twitching. Fatigue, lack of sleep, physical exertion, stress and eye irritation are additional causes of eye jitter. Sometimes, additional sleep remedies the problem; however, in other instances, simply waiting it out is the only option. Twitching can last anywhere from mere seconds to a couple of weeks, depending on your circumstance.

Blepharospasm

• Blepharospasm is the medical term associated with eye twitching. Benign essential blepharospasm is a specific type of blepharospasm that causes chronic eyelid spasms in both eyes, but it is not considered life threatening. The exact cause of this condition is not known, but certain symptoms serve as indicators, including eyelid inflammation, dry eyes, light sensitivity and pink eye.

Brain and Nerve Conditions

• Eye jitter is sometimes a sign of a brain or nerve disorder. It commonly occurs in conjunction with other symptoms, so be aware if you are having signs of certain brain and nerve disorders. Bell's palsy, dystonia, parkinsonism and cervical dystonia are the most common brain and nerve disorders associated with eye twitching. Side effects of medication, especially medications used to treat epilepsy and psychosis, are also associated with eye jitter.