Eyelid twitching: Is it really a bad omen?

An eyelid twitch often strikes without warning. It’s an involuntary and uncontrollable movement of the muscle in the eyelid that may bring about feelings of irritation, bewilderment, and for some people, fear. 

In Chinese culture, if your right eye starts twitching, it’s seen as a bad omen. In India, this specific superstition of right eye twitches is also the same – except that the bad luck only applies to women. Left eye twitches, in turn, spell bad luck for men. Another common belief is that upper eyelid twitches signify that you may soon receive some bad news.  

Even if nothing disastrous happens, the odd sensation of such twitches still brings about much discomfort. But it’s time we put this old wives’ tale to rest. Even though we tend to get extra superstitious during the Hungry Ghost Festival period, this is one omen that you can ignore – for the most part.  

There are two general types of eyelid twitching: the mild and infrequent sort, and the severe and debilitating sort. Most people experience minor eyelid twitches. It may feel significant and worrisome, but if it’s not that visible to others and if it goes away on its own after a while, then there’s nothing to worry about. 

Such minor twitches may be caused by stress, lack of sleep, or taking too much caffeine. Even environmental irritants, alcohol and light sensitivity can trigger this phenomenon.  

READ MORE: How smoking or vaping really affects your eyes 

In most cases of eyelid twitching, people are experiencing myokymia. Myokymia can affect the lower or upper eyelid, but the spasms typically occur in one eye at a time. It may occur over a few hours or days, but it is totally harmless and isn’t linked to any disease – no need to see the doctor here! 

A few at-home remedies you can try to get rid of the twitching include placing a warm towel over your eyelid for about 15 minutes to relax the muscles; staying away from smoking and drinking alcohol or caffeine; taking a quick nap; and taking part in activities that help you de-stress.

If your eyelid doesn’t stop twitching even after trying those remedies, you may have a bigger problem on your hands. A sure sign that you should consult a doctor is when the twitches last more than a week, or if your eyelid droops or closes completely.  

You may have a condition known as benign essential blepharospasm. This is a rare disorder that affects about four out of every 100,000 people – usually those aged 50 and above. Women are also twice as likely as men to develop this condition.  

It starts out as involuntary blinking and eye twitching, leading to other facial spasms, the complete closure of your eyelids, and may even develop into a condition known as Meige syndrome that causes spasms in the lower part of the face. Unfortunately, we have not figured out the exact cause of benign essential blepharospasm. Nonetheless, for most people experiencing uncontrollable eyelid twitching, the chances of it resulting in a serious condition is extremely low. 

It’s always better to get ahead of any potential eye health problems, before they start affecting your daily life. Even if it starts out as an innocent twitch of the eyelid. The best way to remain proactive is by checking in with your local optometrist in Singapore on a regular basis. We recommend a comprehensive eye examination every one to two years, so your optometrist can look out for any vision changes or early signs of serious eye conditions. 

READ MORE: 4 reasons to visit an optometrist in Singapore 

At Chew’s Optics, a routine eye examination takes about 20 minutes to complete, so you won’t have to take too much time out of your day for a visit. We make sure to keep it an affordable service as well, ranging from S$20 per session, depending on whether it’s booked as a stand-alone service or an add-on session on top of a contact lens or spectacles purchase. 

Swing by our optical store at 144 Teck Whye Lane, #01-211, Singapore. We are open daily except Mondays and Fridays. Feel free to either walk in, book an appointment here, or reach out to us directly on WhatsApp at +65 8314 7093.