Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesOther CausesHow Long It LastsSeeing a ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Other Causes
How Long It Lasts
Seeing a Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Aneye twitch(myokymia) is a benign condition that causes involuntary spasms of the eyelid.
This article will discuss common causes ofeyelid twitching, why it may occur with a headache, and how to treat it.
SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images
Causes of Eyelid Twitching and Headaches
There are two types of headaches that can cause eye twitching: Migraines and cluster headaches.
Migraine
Amigraineis a severe type of headache, technically classified as a neurological disease, that affects more than 39 million Americans. Symptoms of migraines include:
These symptoms can last from four hours to several days and can result in eyelid twitching, especially if aura is present.
Because there is no test used for migraines, a diagnosis can be difficult to make and sometimes missed. Talking with your healthcare provider about the type, severity, duration, and frequency of your symptoms can help determine an appropriate diagnosis.
Cluster Headache
Cluster headachesalso referred to as Horton’s syndrome, cause a series of intense, cyclically occurring headaches, with each one lasting between one and three hours. Cluster headaches can occur every day and at multiple times. They often are linked to a sudden release of histamine orserotonin, or triggers like bright lights, exercise, heat, and alcohol use.
Symptoms of cluster headaches include:
Other Causes of Eye Twitching
Mild eye twitching often occurs in response to:
These underlying causes may or may not also cause a mild headache.
Benign eye twitching typically only lasts for a few days and resolves on its own. The twitching is often intermittent throughout the day, with periods of rest in between one or a few spasms of the eyelid.
Eye twitching is rarely continuous throughout the day without stopping. Eye twitching that occurs with headaches often lasts until the headache symptoms resolve.
If eye twitching becomes worse or does not go away after one week, you may have a more serious medical condition causing eyelid spasms, tics, or tremors. Potential causes of ongoing eye twitching include:
Treatment
What’s more, alleviating headache symptoms canhelp decrease eye twitching, and managing many of the triggers that can cause eye twitching can also help decrease the occurrence of headaches.
Medication used to treat headaches, including migraines and cluster headaches, consists of:
Injections of Botox (botulinum toxin), magnesium supplementation, high dose oxygen supplementation, and noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation may also be used to treat severe and ongoing headaches.
Underlying conditions causing eye twitching need to be treated and managed first to see any improvement. If severe or chronic eye twitching is unrelated to any neurological or eye condition, small Botox injections can be injected around your eye to decrease nerve impulses to the eyelid and resulting eyelid spasms.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
You should see your primary healthcare provider or eye doctor (ophthalmologistoroptometrist) about your eye twitch if:
These are possible signs of a neurological disorder or condition causing irritation to your eyelid,cornea(clear, protective outer layer of the eye), orconjunctiva(loose connective tissue covering the surface of the eye) of your eye.
If your eye twitch only occurs with headaches, you should see your healthcare provider if:
Severe and recurrent headaches are possible signs of migraines or cluster headaches and require medical attention to treat and manage symptoms.
Summary
Eye twitching from headaches is a common symptom that goes away on its own, especially after headache symptoms resolve. Managing stress, reducing eye strain, and getting enough sleep are key for preventing both headaches and eye twitching. If your eye twitches result from migraines or cluster headaches, medication to manage your head pain and symptoms may be required to reduce the eye twitching.
Individual episodes of eyelid twitching typically last for one or a few seconds and occur intermittently throughout the day. You may have eyelid twitching for a few days, but it typically goes away within a week.
Muscle spasms feel like brief involuntary contraction of muscles.
If you’re pregnant, you can typically take Tylenol (acetaminophen) to treat headaches, although the use of NSAIDs after 20 weeks of pregnancy should be avoided due to increased risks of heart and kidney problems, low amniotic fluid levels, preterm birth, miscarriage, and stillbirth.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Migraine Foundation.What Is Migraine?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Cluster Headaches.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eye Twitching.National Library of Medicine.Eyelid twitch.Outpatient Primary Care Management of Headaches: Guidelines from the VA/DoD.Am Fam Physician.2021 Sep ;104(2):316-320.Food and Drug Administration.FDA recommends avoiding use of NSAIDs in pregnancy at 20 weeks or later because they can result in low amniotic fluid.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Migraine Foundation.What Is Migraine?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Cluster Headaches.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eye Twitching.National Library of Medicine.Eyelid twitch.Outpatient Primary Care Management of Headaches: Guidelines from the VA/DoD.Am Fam Physician.2021 Sep ;104(2):316-320.Food and Drug Administration.FDA recommends avoiding use of NSAIDs in pregnancy at 20 weeks or later because they can result in low amniotic fluid.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Migraine Foundation.What Is Migraine?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Cluster Headaches.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eye Twitching.National Library of Medicine.Eyelid twitch.Outpatient Primary Care Management of Headaches: Guidelines from the VA/DoD.Am Fam Physician.2021 Sep ;104(2):316-320.Food and Drug Administration.FDA recommends avoiding use of NSAIDs in pregnancy at 20 weeks or later because they can result in low amniotic fluid.
American Migraine Foundation.What Is Migraine?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Cluster Headaches.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eye Twitching.
National Library of Medicine.Eyelid twitch.
Outpatient Primary Care Management of Headaches: Guidelines from the VA/DoD.Am Fam Physician.2021 Sep ;104(2):316-320.
Food and Drug Administration.FDA recommends avoiding use of NSAIDs in pregnancy at 20 weeks or later because they can result in low amniotic fluid.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
