Blepharospasm

With Blepharospasm is called a spasmodic eyelid closure due to various causes, and partly as a symptom of disease otherwise. It can occur on one side or both sides and is not to be confused with ptosis.

Ocular blepharospasm

This type of spasmodic closure of the eyelids caused by painful irritation, injury, inflammation or foreign bodies in the eye.

Essential blepharospasm

The idiopathic form of Lidkrampfes usually occurs on both sides and is based on an involuntary, repetitive increased innervation of the orbicularis oculi muscle with slightly raised lower eyelid. He usually begins with excessive blinking, which is triggered in the early stages by bright light stimuli, fatigue and emotional tension. The symptoms increase over time in intensity and strength, and can be so pronounced that a complete closure of the eye takes place over several hours. Its exact cause is unknown. It is a malfunction of the basal ganglia of the brain, possibly due to an imbalance of the neurotransmitter dopamine. He can face, chewing or neck muscles occur in conjunction with other convulsive changes ( grimacing ) and is thus delineate on similar symptoms in tardive dyskinesia, Parkinson's disease, Meige syndrome or caused by tetany, often in combination with so-called fish-mouth ( pre- turned-up mouth).

Other forms

In differentiation to essential blepharospasm hemifacial spasm or need a facial myokymia be considered that have similar symptoms, but other causes, such as vascular changes or nerve compressions.

Therapy

Surgical, medical and psychiatric treatments achieve any success in the rule. As a treatment of choice injections of the potent nerve poison botulinum toxin, which is also used successfully in the treatment of strabismus apply. With appropriate dosage they lead to paralysis of the orbicularis oculi, is about 7 days you maximum effect and last up to three months. This is expressed in 96% of patients, effectiveness of the treatment.