Dry eyes, eye strains and irritation, stress, teeth grinding and clenching, fatigue and lack of sleep, vitamin and mineral deficiency, allergies, caffeine and alcohol, improper or wrong eyeglasses and medications are some of the causes of eye twitching during pregnancy.

Twitching of the eye is a situation where your eye starts to spasm uncontrollably without you inducing it yourself. It occurs on both the upper and the lower eyelids and can be generally hard to control. However, most of the time they are harmless and involve just a minor movement that can be ignored. There are times though when they can be uncontrollable and even cause the shutting of the eye. In this article, we will discuss eye-twitching during pregnancy in details. Read on to find out everything you need to know about this problem.

Eye Twitching during Pregnancy: Causes and Remedies

Causes of  eye twitching during pregnancy

There are many causes that trigger eye twitching during pregnancy first trimester. Here are a few of the causes along with the remedy:

Dry eyes

Dry eyes are one of the common reasons for eye spasms and twitching during pregnancy. One of the common reasons behind this is continually staring at a computer screen and other electronic devices for work or entertainment.

Eye strains and irritation

Eye strains generally occur when you stare into screens that do not have anti-glare protection, walking in the sun without sunglasses, or using phones for a long time without having breaks. Irritation caused by foreign bodies in the eye can make your eyes water and trigger eye twitches.

Stress

One of the most common reasons behind eye twitching is stress. Stress affects the nervous system, which in turn, affects the involuntary muscles around the eyes. This triggers eye twitches. Pregnant women who face a lot of stress can be affected by eye twitches and pain in their eyes.

Teeth grinding and clenching

Grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw, especially during deep sleep can cause a lot of stress on the facial muscles. This may cause the involuntary muscles around the eye region to go into spasms, thus resulting in eye twitches.

Fatigue and lack of sleep

Not getting enough rest or sleep during pregnancy is a common occurrence for many pregnant women. Tiredness and sleep deprivation can not only lead to eye pain and twitching, but also other issues like migraines, and lowered concentration levels.

Vitamin and mineral deficiency

Vitamins and minerals are the cornerstones to keeping your body free from disease while also providing your little one with the nutrients they need inside the womb. Imbalances in magnesium, potassium or calcium can cause your eyes to begin twitching.

Allergies

Eye spasms can be triggered when there are excessive pollen levels in the environment. Other allergens like bird feathers and pet dander can also trigger eye twitches. Some pregnant women might begin feeling a sense of twitching in their eyes during this time.

Caffeine and alcohol

There are certain properties in caffeine and alcohol that help the body relax. These relaxants can sometimes cause spasms in the eye when taken in excess amounts. Caffeine can also make your eyes start to feel heavy and trigger eye twitches.

Medications

Certain medications taken can have certain effects such as the left eye twitching during early pregnancy. These are generally caused because the medication affects your nerve cells, causing the eye to twitch.

Improper or wrong eyeglasses

Spectacles can be another reason for eye twitching issues. Having the wrong power can occur during pregnancy, especially when one has gestational diabetes. Certain objects may not seem clear, and this can strain your eyes, causing twitches.

Remedies for eye twitching during pregnancy

• To ensure that your eyes don’t get dry while working, it is good to take short breaks every 10-15 minutes. It is best to limit your screen time or wear anti-glare glasses. These eyeglasses have a coating that is anti-reflective and blocks blue light. Thus, they reduce the strain on the eyes. Even using artificial tears prescribed by a doctor are a good way to lubricate your eyes. They relieve the dryness and irritation in your eyes.
• Ensure that you get an anti-glare screen and cover your eyes by dipping cotton in rose water and dabbing them. Even cucumber slices can help provide a cooling effect for your eyes. If something gets into your eye, thoroughly wash with plain lukewarm water to flush out the particle and gently pat dry.
• While it isn’t easy to get rid of stress, trying to keep a healthy and happy outlook can work wonders in reducing eye stress. Try listening to a lot of music and getting enough rest to reduce stress levels. Meditation is another way to ensure you stay calm.
• While it isn’t possible to consciously control your jaw movements while asleep, wearing a mouth guard can help. Also, massaging the inner and outer jaws can also help.
• To negate this, ensure you get enough rest and sleep by satisfying the minimum 8 hours required a day.
• Get your magnesium levels checked regularly and supplement yourself with some dark chocolate from time to time to raise its levels.
• Keep getting your eyes hydrated by applying cotton dabbed in rose water or by placing chilled cucumber slices over your eyes. Also, consult a physician to give you a stronger medicine during this time.
• Try to cut caffeine or alcohol when you’re pregnant and switch to water-based drinks or just plain water to stay hydrated.
• To avoid this, it is better that you consult a doctor and get a written send-off that the medicines administered are safe for use.
• Getting your eyes checked by an optician to help alter your glasses or get them replaced can help in this case.

Thus, to conclude, eye twitching is a common occurrence when you’re pregnant, so you shouldn’t stress out too much. Just ensure that you keep your eyes hydrated and constantly blink to ensure that the twitching subsides or disappears. However, if the twitching is extremely painful and is causing side effects like fever and isn’t closing itself properly, then it might be due to other reasons. Consult a doctor in this case then.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5082244/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4165189/