Does putting eye drops make your eyelid twitch? And does the twitching persist for quite a while after that?
It may keep on twitching to only a mild degree, but persistently, or … there may be just a few twitches and that’s it – but those few twitches are more like “thumpers.”
Twitching Eyelids: A Phenomenon Since the Dawn of History
You may have already noticed that simply rubbing a tired eye or scratching it can provoke twitching.
So it’s not a far leap of the imagination to consider that applying drops could irritate something and cause harmless twitching.
“Twitching eyelids are due to spasm of the nerve that controls eyelid motion (think of it as hiccups of the eyelids),” explains Susan L. Besser, MD, with Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, and Diplomate American Board of Obesity Medicine and board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.
“Anything that can irritate that nerve (like eye drops) could cause it, but it could also happen spontaneously (like hiccups).”
Prevention of Eyelid Twitching from Eye Drops
See what happens when you apply the drops from a different angle, and try not to make contact between the lid with the bottle tip.
But even the liquid alone can cause a little lid twitching. So you may want to squeeze the drop into a different location of the eye.
Doctors often recommend applying eye drops by pulling gently on the lower lid to create a little bowl, and then squeezing a drop in there.
However, to anyone who fears causing wrinkles by stretching this delicate area of skin with a fingertip, the idea of applying eye drops from overhead – without pulling on any skin – has more appeal.
Experiment with different angles, and if you don’t have any qualms about pulling on the skin, try different areas of that lower region.
Aside from these tactics, there’s really nothing you can do to prevent your eyelid from twitching in response to eye drops.
This reminds me of when I’d put my hair in two braids, then lean over my white German shepherd to give him a hug, my face above the top of his head, arms around his neck.
Suddenly his ear – the entire ear – would start twitching. This was because a braid was coming in contact with his ear. It was so cute! But also so harmless.
Now that you know that a twitching eyelid from eye drops is a benign occurrence, you should not worry about prevention, and just let it run its course.
Dr. Besser provides comprehensive family care, treating common and acute primary conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Her ongoing approach allows her the opportunity to provide accurate and critical diagnoses of more complex conditions and disorders.
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified by the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained clients of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health.
.
