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Medical Edge Newspaper Column from Mayo Clinic

EYE TWITCH LIKELY CAUSED BY STRAIN, NOT DIET

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: For the last six months, I have been bothered by a twitch in my right eye. Some days it doesn’t bother me at all and some days it’s very annoying. I wonder if I’m not getting enough calcium or too much calcium — or too much magnesium or not enough magnesium. Am I worried about this twitch unnecessarily or could this be a symptom of some underlying disease? Should I be seeing a neurologist or an ophthalmologist?

ANSWER: Although bothersome, an eye twitch is a common condition that usually does not require medical treatment.

Eye twitches are most often the result of eye strain, stress or fatigue. Extended periods of reading or writing may cause an eye twitch, for example. Or, an improper prescription for glasses may cause eye strain that results in twitching.

Eye twitches usually go away by themselves, but the amount of time a person has a twitch can vary widely. A twitch that comes and goes for six months, as you describe, is not out of the ordinary.

Changing your diet is not likely to make a difference. There is no evidence of a relationship between twitches and calcium, magnesium or any other vitamins or minerals. But there are steps you can take that may help. Reducing the time you spend in activities that cause eye fatigue — such as reading, writing or working at a computer — could decrease the twitching. If you have had your glasses prescription changed recently, confirm that it is the correct strength for your eyes, as an inaccurate prescription may cause eye strain and fatigue.

You may want to see an ophthalmologist if it seems you need a different level of correction in your glasses. If you do not have glasses, but your vision isn’t as clear as it used to be, that also could be a source of eye strain. Having an ophthalmologist check your eyes would be a good idea in that situation, as well.

It’s unlikely your eye twitch is the symptom of an underlying disease. At this time, a visit to a neurologist seems unnecessary. However, if the problem persists, if you have other symptoms associated with the twitch, or if the twitching becomes constant, then a consultation with a neurologist would be in order.

— Jasper Daube, M.D., Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Additional Resources:
Ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic
Appointment Information
More Information on Eye Twitch

READERS: While acne is often the cause of teen angst, it can also plague adults, particularly women in their 20s, 30s and 40s. In fact, women of those age groups can develop acne even if they never had acne as a teen.

Hormonal changes, greasy or oily cosmetics or hair products, certain drugs such as corticosteroids or high levels of humidity and sweating could contribute to adult acne, according to Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

Contrary to what some people think, foods have little effect on acne. Nor is it caused by dirt. In fact, scrubbing your skin too hard or cleaning with harsh soaps or chemicals can cause irritation, which may make acne worse.

Acne treatments work by reducing oil production, speeding up skin-cell turnover, fighting bacterial infection or doing all three. Your doctor or dermatologist could recommend these treatment options:

— Topical treatments: Acne lotions may dry up the oil, kill bacteria and promote the removal of dead skin cells. Nonprescription lotions may contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid or lactic acid. They can help with mild acne. If your acne doesn’t respond, you may want to see your care provider for a stronger prescription lotion, such as tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova) or adapalene (Differin).

— Antibiotics: Prescription oral antibiotics may be needed to reduce bacteria and fight inflammation for moderate to severe acne. They may be used in combination with topical products.

— Isotretinoin (Accutane, Claravis, others): This powerful drug is used for acne that scars or doesn’t respond to other treatments. It takes close work with your doctor because of possible severe side effects.

— Oral contraceptives: These have been shown to improve acne in women, especially those with acne related to menstrual cycles.

See your doctor if you have a sudden onset of acne, especially if it’s severe. It can occasionally signal an underlying medical problem.

Additional Resources:
Acne
Appointment Information
More Information on Acne

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Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. To e-mail a question, go to www.mayoclinic.org, or write: Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, N.Y., 14207. For health information, visit www.mayoclinic.com.