Eye twitches can be distracting and annoying, lasting a few seconds or minutes at a time and can interfere with the ability to concentrate. They are rarely a sign of serious disorder. That said, eye twitching can be an early sign of an underlying neurological disorder or neuromuscular disorder such as Tourette’s syndrome, however these conditions are typically accompanied by other more pronounced symptoms such as facial spasms, shaking and tremors.
Since eye muscle spasms tend to happen randomly and inconsistently, the exact cause of eye twitching (also known as blepharospasm) can be hard to determine. Certain triggers may be in diet and lifestyle. Emotions can play a role, with some people only experiencing eye twitches when they feel sad or anxious.
Although not common, eye twitching lasting months at a time can result in a condition called benign essential blepharospasm. Benign essential blepharospasm usually affects both eyes and may be one of several involuntary muscular disorders, such as uncontrolled blinking and spasms in other areas of the body.