I have noticed a twitch under my left eye. Could it be a symptom of ALS?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 42-year-old male and have noticed a twitch under my left eye. It has constantly been twitching for the past week. I do not have any muscle weakness in my hands and legs or any other symptoms. My question is, could this be a symptom of ALS (especially the kind that affects the upper neurons)? I read that by the time the twitching appears, that region should show muscle atrophy - does my video show atrophy of muscle? I do not feel the twitches, and they are noticed only when I look in the mirror. Also, the twitches are constant (massaging does not help). I do tend to get twitches in other parts of my body from time to time, but this time it is so constant that it has made me worried.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I passed carefully through your question and would explain that your symptoms are not suggestive of ALS as the location of the muscle twitching is very atypical of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and you do not have any other symptoms like muscle or limb weakness, muscle wasting, or difficulty in swallowing. You should know that there are a lot of benign causes underlying muscle twitching like anxiety, benign fasciculation syndrome, caffeine intake, dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, prolonged standing before screens, poor sleep, etc. So, in my opinion, there is no reason to worry about it. I would recommend avoiding caffeine intake and taking some Magnesium supplements to help improve your situation. It is also important to avoid standing before the computer or smartphone for a long period of time. You should have a good sleep.

I hope to have been helpful.

I remain at your disposal for further questions whenever you need them.

Kind regards.