Eye tics not caused by magnesium deficiency, pharmacist says

Pharmacist Boticaria García said that eye tics are not caused by a lack of magnesium during a television appearance last week ^[1].

This clarification addresses a widespread popular belief that leads many individuals to take unnecessary supplements when experiencing involuntary eyelid muscle contractions. By debunking this myth, medical professionals aim to steer patients toward accurate health information and away from self-diagnosis based on anecdotal evidence.

Speaking on the program "Zapeando" on the Spanish network La Sexta on May 18, García discussed the condition known medically as eyelid myokymia [1, 2]. She said that these involuntary spasms are common and typically do not indicate a serious underlying health problem.

According to García, the condition "suele ser benigno y es autolimitado" — it is usually benign and self-limiting ^[1]. This means the tics generally resolve on their own without the need for medical intervention or mineral supplementation.

While popular culture often links these muscle twitches to magnesium deficiency, the pharmacist said that this connection is not supported by medical evidence ^[1]. The goal of the segment was to provide correct medical information to the public and discourage the reliance on folk beliefs for treating physiological symptoms.

Eyelid myokymia is often triggered by factors such as stress, fatigue, or excessive caffeine intake, though it is primarily characterized as a temporary annoyance rather than a clinical pathology ^[2]. The appearance of these tics does not necessitate a change in diet, or the addition of magnesium to one's daily routine, unless a physician has diagnosed a specific deficiency through clinical testing.