I have the same exact thing happen to me, on and off, every 30 to 60 days, sometimes more. I begin to feel eye twitches and tugs and if I squint my eye hard, it hurts like a bruise. For the past year, I have been keeping a diary of what I ate and what I was doing when the eye problems started. So far, the only commonality is that I ate chicken and I ate salad, but I eat that all of the time, so likely not a cause of any sort.
It only happens to my right eye. It gets sore, twitches, and swells. My eye is not red and my vision is not affected. It only hurts when I squint hard or press on my eye with my finger - it feels like a bruise or an infection, if I had to try to describe the pain. Usually it is my right eye, and on the outside of my eye. Today, it is more along the top and inside of my right eye, which is the first time it has ever felt that way.
Usually lasts for 3 days then goes away.
Last month, as soon as I started feeling an episode of twitching and soreness come on, I went to an eye doc and I had my blood tested for HLA B27, by request of my eye doc. My eyes are perfectly normal and health. HLA B27 came back negative.
I am a physically active, 39 yr old male, in great health (6' 2" 170 lbs BMI of 21.0, Body Fat 13%, etc.) and I have no family history of any eye problems or any eye-specific disease.
THINGS I AM RESEARCHING:
1. A possible connection between digestive system and eye twitches/pain - apparently the lining of your eye and intestines are made of the same things
2. Dental-related connections, although my teeth are fine - never had a cavity or any tooth problems.
3. I run and cycle a lot, and I sweat a lot in the summer heat. Sweat does get in my eye, so perhaps it irritates my eye, BUT why only the right one?
4. Allergies? Eye doc ruled them out, saying that if it were allergies, both eyes would be affected.
5. Sleep/Stress - Could sleep more, but I usually get at least 6 hours each night, although I am a bit stressed, but nothing really - no problems related to stress.