Blepharospasm: what it is, causes and treatment

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Blepharospasm, also known as benign essential blepharospasm, is a condition in which one or both eyelids are fluttering. This can also reduce the lubrication of the eyes, causing the person to blink more often.

In most cases, blepharospasm is caused by excessive tiredness, being in front of the computer for a long time, excessive consumption of drinks and foods rich in caffeine, however, in some cases, when accompanied by other symptoms such as body tremors, for example, this condition can be a sign of some neurological disease such as Tourette's syndrome or Parkinson's disease.

Generally, blepharospasm disappears without the need for specific treatment, but if it lasts for more than a month, is very frequent and causes the eyelid to relax, affecting vision, it is important to consult an ophthalmologist to indicate the most appropriate treatment.

Symptoms of Blepharospasm

Blepharospasm appears as a tremor in one or both eyelids, which may or may not occur at the same time, and other symptoms may appear, such as:

  • dry eye;
  • Increase in the amount of pis
  • Involuntary closing of the eyes;
  • Light sensitivity;
  • Irritability.

In addition, blepharospasm can also lead to facial twitching, which is when the face seems to shake too, and eyelid ptosis, which is when this skin droops over the eye, can happen.

Main causes

Blepharospasm is the condition that happens when the eyelid is fluttering, like a muscle spasm, and this is usually caused by insufficient sleep, excessive tiredness, stress, medication use, ingestion of foods and drinks rich in caffeine, such as coffee and soft drinks or by spending a lot of time in front of the computer or cell phone.

In some cases, the tremor in the eyelids of the eyes may be accompanied by swelling and redness of this area, which may be a sign of blepharitis, which is inflammation of the edges of the eyelids. See  how to identify blepharitis and what treatment is indicated .

When blepharospasm is associated with tremors in the body, it can indicate a problem with the brain's control of muscles and this can happen in diseases such as Tourette's syndrome, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, dystonia or Bell's palsy.

How is the treatment done?

Blepharospasm usually disappears without specific treatment, it is only necessary to rest, reduce stress situations and reduce the amount of caffeine in the diet, however, when symptoms are very frequent and do not go away after 1 month, it is important to consult a general practitioner or neurologist.

At the appointment, an eyelid exam will be carried out and the doctor may recommend medications such as muscle relaxants or anti-anxiety medication, if the person is very anxious or stressed. In more severe cases, it may be recommended to apply botox in a very small amount, as this helps to relax the eyelid muscles and reduce the tremor.

Myectomy surgery may also be indicated, which is the surgical procedure that aims to remove some muscles and nerves from the eyelid, because in this way, it is possible to relieve the tremor. Some complementary treatments can be done such as chiropractic, which is similar to therapeutic massage, and acupuncture, which is the application of very fine needles in the body. Check out  what acupuncture is and what it's for .