Eye twitching after cataract surgery is a common issue and once in a while we all face this. Not necessarily, eye twitching can always after a cataract surgery. Some common reasons could be Fatigue, Stress, Nicotine or Lack of sleep. Another common reason could production of oil around eye. (“Blepharospasm: Why Does My Eye Keep Twitching? How Can I Stop It?”).
The medical term for eye twitching is myokymia. If you are facing eye twitching continuously, serious neurological condition affecting the eyelid such as blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm.
According to WebMD, “Eye twitches can also be a side effect of certain medications. The most common include drugs that treat psychosis and epilepsy” (“What Medications Cause Eye Twitches?”). An irritated eye is another related term to eye twitching and is pretty common as well. For most of the time, eye twitching occurs at the corner of the eye or cornea.
In Medical terms, eyelid twitch, or myokymia, is a repetitive, involuntary spasm of the eyelid muscles. Usually occurs in the upper lid, but it can occur in both the upper and lower lids. If you have nagging dry eye symptoms months after cataract surgery, then the real diagnosis could be persistent postsurgical pain (PPP). 34% of the total patients have eye twitches after cataract surgery.
Eye Twitching Reasons (After Cataract Surgery)
Nowadays, the prolonged use of digital screens got more regular for all of us. Eyelid strain is pretty much common because of this. And, stress is a major concern for eye twitching after cataract surgery. Improving your vision could be enough to deal with chronic twitching due to eye stress or strain.
Lack of sleep could also be a reason for eye twitching. Less than 6-8 hours of sleep can contribute to it majorly. I usually have 6 hours of sleep and it’s enough to make me feel refreshed. But, in case I am in a flight or busy with some work and my sleep gets disturbed, eye twitching happens usually. So, Reduce Stress to Eliminate Eye Twitches.
One of the major causes of eye twitching and headache is dehydration of body and excessive caffeine is responsible for this. Dryness of eyes is a major factor here. Caffeine can actually speed up the process of eye twitching after cataract surgery. About 200 to 300 milligrams or two to four cups of coffee — is usually considered safe.Lubricant eye drops or artificial tears may help by providing hydration to the eyes.
When to see an Eye Doctor?
Most of them go away without any prior treatment in a few days. Common causes of eye twitching after cataract surgery is already discussed above. You may need to visit a doctor if:
- Swollen eyes or have some unusual discharge
- Drooping upper eyelid
- Its affecting other parts of your body or face
Treatment for Eyelid Twitching after Cataract Surgery
Mild ones usually go themselves as they are usually caused by stress or increased intake of caffeine. Extreme cases (or essential blepharospasm) can be much more serious. Keeping a warm cloth compressed may help.
If it’s not getting away, facial injections and surgical methods can work. Continuous eyelid twitching can be treated with Botox injections to stop the involuntary muscle contractions. But first, go to your doctor and ask for help rather than taking decisions by own. However, even in a minor cataract surgery, the eye twitching may become more severe.
It is important to see your ophthalmologist about possible complications. Proper medications and a warm compress may help to deal with eye twitching after cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is a safe procedure but if you have the problem of eye twitching, then it may interfere with your vision so be very careful and have reliable information.
