How to Treat Eye Spasms

For some people, eye spasms are more than just an occasional annoyance. If you're experiencing persistent twitching that gets in the way of your everyday life, it's time to seek out a remedy. Here are a few solutions you can try on your own as well as options to ask your doctor about.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Try to get plenty of sleep to keep your eye muscles rested.

2. Apply a cold compress to your eye when you experience a lot of twitching. Soak a washcloth in water and wring it out. Lay down and place the washcloth over your eyes. The cold constricts the blood vessels, easing blood away from the eyes.

3. Lower your stress levels through whatever means works best for you-- meditation, yoga, aromatherapy, warm baths and exercise are a few ways to accomplish this.

4. Take frequent breaks when participating in an activity that causes eye strain such as looking at a computer monitor or reading.

5. See an eye doctor for possible drug therapy. Medications to treat eye spasms work for some people, but others may need more aggressive treatment.

6. Ask your doctor about getting Botox injections at the site of the spasms. Botox has found to be an effective and safe treatment for eye spasms. It is administered through a few very small injections into the muscle to block the nerve impulses that trigger twitching.

Tips & Warnings

• The most common causes of eye spasms are fatigue and stress. Try getting rest and lowering your stress levels before resorting to drug therapy.