Sometimes the human body is a mystery. Ocular Myokymia is one of those quirky little things that almost everyone has experienced, but may not have known why. Here are some interesting facts about Ocular Myokymia.
What is Ocular Myokymia?
This fairly commonplace occurrence is a twitch or spasm in the eyelid. If you place your finger on your lid, you can even feel the movement with your finger. You have no control over these twitches, and normally they don’t last long. Occasionally optometry patients will complain about a twitch that lasts for days or even weeks, but normally it is just an anomaly that passes fairly quickly.
Causes
Ocular Myokymia can have many different reasons for occurring. If you ingest caffeine, are tired, have worked too long on the computer or on finely detailed work, or are overly stressed your body can manifest the problem through these twitches.
Prevention and Cures
The best way to avoid Ocular Myokymia is to get plenty of rest. This includes sleeping adequately and letting your eyes have a break during heavy work days at the computer or close-up tasks. Deal with stress as constructively as possible, by meditating or finding an outlet that allows you to relax.
When It’s Not Normal
In some cases, Ocular Myokymia can be a sign of a more serious condition like multiple sclerosis or a brain stem issue. Generally in these cases, the twitch has endured an unreasonable amount of time or has spread to other parts of your face. Anytime unusual signs like this occur, it’s best to talk to your doctor of optometry to play it safe.
Ocular Myokymia is usually a harmless, painless occurrence resulting from controllable factors. Talk to your optometrist for more information or if you’ve got a twitch that won’t stop.
