July 16, 2012 Blepharospasm is a type of a focal dystonia that is characterized by sudden and uncontrollable contraction of the eyelids, so that the patient has a problem with spontaneous eye opening. It occurs mainly in older age, usually on both sides, but sometimes it can affect only one side.
Severity and frequency of attacks are different. At first, the disturbances are mild and occur infrequently in the form of discomfort, irritation and blinking. Over time they become more accentuated, and in addition to squeezing of the eyelids can appear uncontrollable clenching of the face or forehead (intermittent blepharospasm).
Causes:
The exact nature of the disease is not fully known, the attack can be caused by high or flashing light, wind, dust and other irritating factors.
Types:
Reflex blepharospasm
Reflex blepharospasm is a tonic spasm of the circular muscle of the eye (eyelid spasm), and trigeminal nerve stimulation that occurs as a result of various eye diseases. With this type of blepharospasm eyelids are permanently convulsively closed. Blepharospasm associated with tearing of the eye (epiphora) and intolerance of light (photophobia) is a triad of irritative symptoms that occur in inflammatory changes in the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis), diseases of the anterior segment of the eye (keratitis, etc).
Treatment:
Treatment focuses on the disease that caused blepharospasm.
Symptomatic blepharospasm
Symptomatic blepharospasm occurs due to irritation of the central or peripheral parts of the facial nerve and by reflex due to irritation of ophtalmic and optic nerve. In addition to frantically closed eyelids, severe spasm can affect other facial muscles that are inverved with facial nerve. Usually it is a combination of tonic and clonic convulsions. Symptomatic blepharospasm usually occurs due to processes inside the skull (Postencephalitic Parkinsonism, abscesses, tumors, etc).
Treatment:
Treating this condition means treating the underlying disease. Temporary improvements can be achieved by injecting 50% alcohol in the circular muscle of the eye. In addition, botulinum toxin type A can also be used, which acts on the chemical transmission of impulses in the muscles and so targeted and selectively reduces their activity.