Not Serious Frequently, patients will come into my office complaining of focal twitching of their upper or lower lid. Usually the twitch starts spontaneously and continues intermittently for several hours, but may last for weeks at a time.
Most patients are upset about the spasm for two main reasons.
First, they are concerned that the spasm is the subtle sign of some ominous neurologic problem. Second, they are concerned that the spasm is cosmetically apparent and that others can easily see the twitching of the lid. Certainly, twitching can be caused by just general eye irritation. However, most cases reveal a normal eye exam, yielding the diagnosis of minor eyelid spasm. The condition may also be brought on by stress or eye strain.