Involuntary Eye Movement
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Involuntary eye movement
Abnormal eye movements
Rapid, uncontrollable eye movements
Eye twitching
Left eye twitching
Right eye twitching
Eyes moving side to side when talking
Eyes keep twitching
Eyes moving side to side
Rapid eye movement
Rapid involuntary eye movement
Shaky or blurry vision
Possible Causes
Generally, Involuntary eye movement can be related to:
- Meniere's Disease
Meniere disease is caused by excess fluid in the inner ear. It is characterized by recurring episodes of dizziness, hearing loss, and ringing in the ear (tinnitus). The disorder typically occurs in one ear.
- Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare condition in which the immune system damages the spinal cord and the optic nerves.
- Migraine
A type of headache that typically presents as throbbing, pulsating pain on one side of the head, sometimes with associated nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Sometimes, sensory disturbances, such as vision changes (seeing flashing lights or zigzag lines), can occur before the headache. The pain may worsen on exposure to bright lights or loud noise. Triggers for migraine include stress, poor sleep, caffeine, and hormonal changes in women.
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Involuntary eye movement may be related to these serious diseases:
- Vertebral Artery Dissection
The vertebral artery is in the neck and provides blood to the brain. A vertebral artery dissection occurs when there's a tear in the artery's inner lining, disrupting blood flow to the brain and causing a stroke. This typically happens due to a blunt force to the neck.
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Brain Tumor
- Cerebral Infarction
- Sick Sinus Syndrome, Complete AV Block
- Cerebral Hemorrhage
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have small involuntary eye movements?
- Are your eyes continuing to make small involuntary side-to-side movements?
- How long have you had your eyes trembling or shaking?
- How severely do trembling or shaking eyes affect your daily life?
Reviewed By:
Ami Shah Vira, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Shah Vira grew up in Arizona. She moved to Chicago to complete a combined engineering and medical program at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Chicago Medical School. She completed a highly competitive two year dual fellowship in Neuro-ophthalmology and Oculoplastic at the highly regarded Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Shah Vira specializes in surgical correction of the eyelids and eyebrows, eyelid malposition and tumors, excessive tearing, and conditions involving the orbit.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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FAQs
Q.
Dilated Pupils? Why Your Eyes Are Dilating & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Dilated pupils can be normal from dim light, strong emotions, eye drops, medications, caffeine, or stimulants, but sudden, persistent, or one-sided dilation can also signal emergencies like head injury, brain bleed, acute angle-closure glaucoma, or third cranial nerve palsy. There are several factors to consider; medically approved next steps include checking lighting, reviewing new medicines, scanning for other symptoms, and acting on red flags like severe headache, confusion, vision loss, or eye pain by seeking urgent care, with complete guidance and when to see a doctor detailed below.
References:
* Al-Qadasi, N., & Al-Hussaini, F. (2022). Mydriasis: An update on causes and clinical approach. *Oman Medical Journal*, 37(1), e316.
* Wilhelm, H. (2019). Neurological examination of the pupil. *Clinical Ophthalmology*, 13, 2307-2321.
* Kardon, R. H. (2009). Pharmacologic mydriasis. *Seminars in Neurology*, 29(4), 304-315.
* Lee, J. Y., & Lee, S. J. (2019). Anisocoria: a comprehensive review. *Korean Journal of Ophthalmology*, 33(3), 209-222.
* Putterman, C., & Galetta, S. L. (2020). Approach to the patient with a dilated pupil. *Practical Neurology*, 20(3), 254-257.
Q.
Eyes Shaking? Why Your Eyes Move & Medically Approved Nystagmus Steps
A.
Eye shaking has a name: nystagmus, and here you’ll find what it is and why it happens. Causes range from inner ear and brain conditions to medications, alcohol, vision problems, and congenital forms, and symptoms can include blurred vision, dizziness, and head tilting. There are several factors to consider; see below for medically approved steps like treating the cause, vision correction or therapy, selected medicines or surgery, lifestyle tips, how doctors diagnose it, urgent red flags that need emergency care, and guidance for children and driving.
References:
* Vella S, Ghiardi JR, Marzoli SB, Vanni S, Verriello L, Gigli GL, Di Mascio MT. Nystagmus: Clinical Features and Management. J Clin Med. 2022 Feb 28;11(5):1295. doi: 10.3390/jcm11051295. PMID: 35268481; PMCID: PMC8900010.
* Hertle RW. Current Approaches to Nystagmus Treatment: A Review. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2021 Mar 16;23(4):11. doi: 10.1007/s11940-021-00659-w. PMID: 33725206; PMCID: PMC7966746.
* Shaikh AG, Bashir Z, Gamal K. Nystagmus. 2023 Jul 17. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 30252321.
* Curthoys IS. Physiological Nystagmus and Its Role in Gaze Stabilization. Front Neurol. 2021 Jun 25;12:699946. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.699946. PMID: 34276566; PMCID: PMC8264353.
* Abadi RV, Barmar A. Congenital Nystagmus: An Update. Strabismus. 2019 Jun;27(2):83-93. doi: 10.1080/09273972.2019.1628178. PMID: 31215372; PMCID: PMC6678229.
Q.
Laughing Until You Can't See? The Muscle Connection to Your Eyes
A.
Temporary blurry vision when laughing hard is often a benign result of normal muscle and autonomic responses that squeeze the eyelids, trigger tearing, and briefly change blood flow and breathing, and it usually clears within seconds. If episodes are frequent or include sudden weakness, droopy eyelids, collapse, double vision, fainting, or severe daytime sleepiness, conditions like cataplexy tied to narcolepsy, vasovagal reactions, hyperventilation, nystagmus, or eye surface problems could be involved; there are several factors to consider, and important details about red flags, diagnosis, and next steps are provided below.
References:
* Messinger D, Mattson WI. The Duchenne smile: A systematic review. Motiv Emot. 2020 Dec;44(6):449-467. doi: 10.1007/s11031-020-09852-5. Epub 2020 Sep 17. PMID: 32944648; PMCID: PMC7501006.
* Namba Y, Nawa K, Sato W. Effects of co-occurring eye closure on emotion perception and empathy. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 2018 Jun;44(6):844-854. doi: 10.1037/xhp0000508. PMID: 29595460.
* Gunnery SD, Krumhuber EG, Arbuckle N, Cho SS, Johnson H, Tsien J, Tobe R, Kandel ER, Saper H, Arbuckle NB, Siegel N, Siegel B, Siegel M. The Duchenne Marker of Enjoyment Smiles Is Not Associated with Felt Enjoyment. Emotion. 2021 May;21(3):477-490. doi: 10.1037/emo0000845. Epub 2020 Dec 3. PMID: 33270438; PMCID: PMC8116541.
* Suskind D, Suskind R. The human smile: a review of the anatomical, neurological, and psychological considerations. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2013 Aug;46(4):645-56. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2013.04.004. Epub 2013 May 29. PMID: 23830784.
* Looi A, Murube J. Anatomy and physiology of the human eyelid. Dev Ophthalmol. 2018;61:1-26. doi: 10.1159/000486804. Epub 2018 Mar 28. PMID: 29635293.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Nystagmus- American Academy of Ophthalmology
https://eyewiki.org/Nystagmus