Blepharospasm

Clinic

• Excessive eye blinking and spasming of one or both eyes, characterized by uncontrollable eyelid closure of durations longer than the typical blink reflex. The spells of spasming may last for minutes or even hours
• Uncontrollable contractions or twitches of the eye muscles and surrounding facial area. Some sufferers have twitching symptoms that radiate into the nose, face, cheeks, and sometimes, the neck area
• Dryness of the eyes
• Sensitivity to the sun and bright light
• It is more common and milder than myokymia or fasciculation.

Two types

• Benign essential blepharospasm: It is a focal dystonia. It is a neurological movement disorder involving involuntary and sustained contractions of the muscles around the eyes. Its cause is unknown, but fatigue, stress, or an irritant are possible contributing factors.
• Reflex Blepharospasm is part of benign fasciculation syndrome.

Causes

• Abnormal functioning of the brain's basal ganglia. Simultaneous dry eye and dystonias such as Meige's syndrome have been observed.
• Blepharospasms can be caused by concussions in some rare cases, when a blow to the back of the head damages the basal ganglia.
• Multiple sclerosis can cause blepharospasm.

SYMPTOMS MIGHT OCCUR WITH EYE BLINKING

Eye blinking symptoms may accompany other symptoms, depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Symptoms that frequently affect the eye may also involve other body systems.

OPHTHALMOLOGIC SYMPTOMS

Eye blinking symptoms may accompany other symptoms affecting the eye including:

• Blurred or double vision
• Discharge from the eye
• Drooping eyelid (ptosis)
• Dry eyes
• Exposure of the ocular surface (lack of adequate wetting due to deficient blinking)
• Eye pain
• Eye muscle palsy (strabismus)
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Itchy eyes
• Pain with blinking (usually severe)
• Red, sore eyes
• Squinting
• Watery eyes

NEUROLOGIC SYMPTOMS

Eye blinking symptoms may accompany symptoms related to the nervous system including:

• Disruptive outbursts of speech or gesture
• Facial paralysis
• Facial tics, including grimacing and twitching of the mouth and nose
• Facial weakness
• Lack of facial expression (called flat affect), or staring
• Restlessness
• Seizures and tremors
• Shuffling gait (shuffling walk)
• Slowed muscle movements
• Slurred speech

SERIOUS SYMPTOMS THAT MIGHT INDICATE A LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION

In some cases, eye blinking symptoms may be a symptom of a life-threatening condition such as stroke that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Emergency care is also needed if eye blinking symptoms are caused by contact with a caustic chemical.

• Abnormal pupils (fixed, dilated, unresponsive to bright light)
• Burning or pain after contact with toxic substance
• Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness
• Facial paralysis
• Facial weakness
• Neck stiffness
• Sudden change in vision, loss of vision, or eye pain
• Sudden loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe, unexplained headache

Causes

Ophtalmologic	Neurologic
Allergies Blepharitis Conjunctivitis Contact lens wear Corneal abrasion or ulcer Dry eyes Exposure to irritants or Foreign bodies Uveitis Iritis	Attention deficit disorder Dystonia Facial tic Parkinson’s disease Stroke Tardive dyskinesia Tourette’s syndrome Seizure

Remedies

Agar

• Twitching, jerking, quivering and spasms of the eyelids.
• The spasms are frequent where eyelids open and close numerous times a day.
• The twitching may be most worse while reading.
• Sensitivity to light may also be noted with above.
• Sometimes watering from eyes appears with spasms and twitching of eyelids.

Zinc

• Twitching of eyelids.
• Upper eyelids tend to feel heavy.
• Intense fatigue and weakness is a prominent attending feature.
• Zincum Met is a great nervous remedy and is also indicated for the treatment of facial twitches and tics in addition to twitching of eyelids.

Phys

• Blepharospasm, twitching of eyelids attended with
• Blurred vision.
• Lids contraction makes it difficult to open the eyes.
• Pain in eyes from moving them may also appear

Euphr

• Blepharospasm when photophobia attends spasm of lids.
• Euphrasia is also useful for twitching eyelids cases linked with Conjunctivitis (Pink / Red eye/ , Discharge, Itching, Grittiness)

Mag-p

• Eyelid spasm and twitches
• Squinting may be present with this
• Photophobia, Increased lachrymation, Tired eyes, Blurred vision

Codeinum

• It is a well-indicated medicine for eyelid twitching that appears while reading and writing.
• Twitching appears in both the eyelids in cases needing Codeinum.
• Rubbing eyelids may help to relieve the eye twitching.e.t.c