Do you know what left eye twitching indicates? This is a common phenomenon experienced by different people worldwide. There are enough superstitions surrounding left eye twitching. It is believed that eye twitching is an indication of either good or bad news. This depends on the culture; for instance, the Chinese believe that left eye twitching indicates the arrival of good fortune or news. In the Indian culture, left eye twitching indicated bad luck. In African culture, left eye twitching is a sign of crying. In Hawaiian culture, twitching of the left eye can indicate a stranger's arrival. The list goes on.... With all these superstitious beliefs, the best one to believe is the medical cause.

Eye twitching, spasms or eyelid tics are a common occurrence. In most cases, only one eyelid is involved, mostly the bottom one. Knowing the causes and treatments for this condition will help us better cope with the problem.

Causes of Left Eye Twitching

These twitches are momentary while others may last for months. In order to determine the cause of a twitching eyelid, doctors need to determine the underlying issue. Twitches can be treated successfully with Botox as this inhibits muscle contraction. It is advisable to seek medical help if the twitching is persistent and affects your eye or face.

Twitches are medically referred to as myokymia and are triggered in various ways:

1. Stress

Different bodies react differently to stress. Left eye twitching is one way for the body to respond to stress. This is more common if the stress is related to eye strain. Reducing stress can relive the twitching.

2. Tiredness

Lack of adequate sleep triggers eyelid twitching. Getting enough sleep can help. Maintain at least 7-8 hours of sleep per day is optimal.

3. Caffeine and Alcohol

Experts believe excessive caffeine and alcohol intake can trigger left eye twitching. The remedy is cutting on the amount of alcohol or caffeine consumed.

4. Dry Eyes

Dry-eyes, is a condition common in elderly people. Using computers and prescribed medication like antidepressants or antihistamines can also cause dry eyes. Stress also causes dry eyes. Visiting the optician is advisable as treatment is prescribed.

5. Straining the Eyes

Left eye twitching can be caused by eye strain. This happens when the eyes try too hard to read. Overuse of computers, tablets or smart-phones cause eye strain.

Remedies: changing the glasses of your spectacles and taking eye exams is advised. Consider minimizing the time spent working at the computer. Take occasional breaks.

6. Allergies

Those with various eye allergies can experience twitching. Rubbing of eyes produces histamine, and this is a known cause of left eye lid twitching.

Remedies: a visit to the doctor can help relief the twitching. The doctor prescribes antihistamine tablets or eye drops.

7. Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium which in turn aids in muscle contraction and relaxation. Lack of vitamin D reduces the absorption of calcium leading to twitching.

Remedies: visiting a doctor is advised for the correct dosage of vitamin D supplements. Consume foods high in Vitamin D including clod oliver oil, fish, oysters and dairy products.

8. Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Lack of vitamin B12 leads to shaky movements as well as spasticity hence eye twitching.

Remedies: patients are put under maintenance doses of vitamin B12. Consistent deficiency of vitamin B12 can be an indication of an underlying medical problem.

Consume foods high in Vitamin B12 including fish, lamb, crab, and beef.

9. Eyelids or Cornea Inflammation

This condition is referred to as blepharitis. It is caused by bacteria overgrowth, blockage of the eyelid's oil glands as well as allergies. It causes itching, scaling and swelling of the eyelashes base.

Remedies: this condition cannot be cured but can be controlled and treated through caring for the eyelid. One can wipe the infected area with warm water.

Prevention: avoid hand eye contact before washing the hands. One needs to avoid sleeping with eye makeup.

10. Neurological Disorders Such as Basal Ganglia

This is a dysfunction in the structure of the brain which is responsible for controlling movement. It is caused by injury to the brain through copper poisoning, carbon monoxide poisoning, head injury, drug overdose, infection, stroke, liver disease and tumors. Muscle spasms are some of the symptoms.

Treatments for Left Eye Twitching

It is advisable to seek medical help from a qualified doctor when the twitching persists. This can be an indication of an underlying problem. The doctor can diagnose and treat the condition early enough.

It is important to see a doctor if:

• Twitching persists beyond three days
• Eyelid closes due to twitching
• Spasms involve facial muscles
• Discharge, redness or swelling occurs

Normally, twitching will stop by itself once the person gets adequate rest and sleep. Some common remedy options include:

• Eliminating alcohol, caffeine or tobacco intake can also stop the twitching. Dry eyes can be treated with over the counter medication.
• Doctors only prescribe drugs to reduce the severity of the left eye twitching. There is no known cure for blepharospasm. The most common treatment is Botox. Injections in the eye muscles stop the spasms for months. Repeat treatment is required.
• Mild cases are often treated by medication like lorazepam, clonazepam or trihexyphenidyl.

Other treatment options include:

• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback
• Hypnosis
• Nutrition therapy
• Chiropractic

However, the advantages of these treatments are inconclusive. Surgery is advised as a last result. Myectomy (the surgical procedure) has benefited at least 85% of the patients. It involves the removal of some eyelid nerves and muscles.

Neurological procedures have also proven to be effective. They relieve the artery pressure on the nerves of the face.