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Benign Essential Blepharospasm Synonym(s): Reviewed 03-21-2003 Get Web page suited for printing Email this to a friend or colleague Studies with patients Table of Contents (click to jump to sections) What is Benign Essential Blepharospasm?Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? Organizations What is Benign Essential Blepharospasm? Benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions and spasms of the eyelid muscles. It is a form of dystonia, a movement disorder in which muscle contractions cause sustained eyelid closure, twitching or repetitive movements. BEB begins gradually with occasional eye blinking and/or irritation. Other symptoms may include involuntary winking or squinting of one or both eyes, increasing difficulty in keeping the eyes open, and light sensitivity. Generally, the spasms occur during the day, disappear in sleep, and reappear after waking. As the condition progresses, the spasms may intensify, forcing the eyelids to remain closed for long periods of time, and thereby causing substantial visual disturbance or functional blindness. It is important to note that the blindness is caused solely by the uncontrollable closing of the eyelids and not by a dysfunction of the eyes. BEB occurs in both men and women, although it is especially common in middle-aged and elderly women. Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation, Inc.
Dystonia Medical Research Foundation
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