21. Blepharospasm blepharospasm is a dystonia where the muscle that closes the eye (orbicularis oculi) contracts Benign Essential blepharospasm Research Foundation http://www.loftusmd.com/Articles/botulinum/Blepharospasm.html

Brian D. Loftus, M.D. 1200 Binz Street ( Directions Area Info About Dr. Loftus Medical Information ... Medical Information: Blepharospasm Blepharospasm is a dystonia where the muscle that closes the eye (orbicularis oculi) contracts uncontrollably. The condition can be severe enough to cause traffic accidents when the patient is suddenly unable to open their eyes to see. The eyes can still be closed voluntarily. Many patients are initially diagnosed as having dry eyes, tics, or simply excessive but normal blinking. Botulinum Toxin Related Articles Blepharospasm Botulinum Toxin Cervical Dystonia Hemifacial Spasm ... Migraine Web Sites of Interest Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation Dystonia Medical Research Foundation Ad content by Google. No endorsement by Dr. Loftus of products or web sites listed. About Dr. Loftus

22. Blepharospasm Resource Guide [NEI Health Information] Provides patient information about blepharospasm, involuntary blinking or spasm of the eyelids. Information about causes, treatments, research studies, and resources. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/blepha/

Text size: S M L Health Funding News Laboratories ... Health Information Blepharospasm Related Topics: To order Blepharospasm Resource Guide visit our online catalog New! Diagram of the Eye Vision-Related TermsSelected Online Sources Finding an Eye Care Professional Talking to Your Doctor ... Eye Health Organizations Database New! On this page: Other Names What is blepharospasm? What causes blepharospasm? What are the symptoms of blepharospasm? ... Medical Literature The information provided in this Resource Guide was developed by the National Eye Institute (NEI) to help patients and their families search for general information about blepharospasm . An eye care professional who has examined the patient's eyes and is familiar with his or her medical history is the best person to answer specific questions. Other Names Benign essential blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm. What is Blepharospasm? Blepharospasm is an abnormal, involuntary blinking or spasm of the eyelids. What causes Blepharospasm? Blepharospasm is associated with an abnormal function of the basal ganglion from an unknown cause. The basal ganglion is the part of the brain responsible for controlling the muscles. In rare cases, heredity may play a role in the development of blepharospasm. What are the symptoms of Blepharospasm?

23. EMedicine - Blepharospasm, Benign Essential Article By Stanley M blepharospasm, Benign Essential The first record of blepharospasm and lower facial spasm was found in the 16th century in a painting titled De http://tmsyn.wc.ask.com/r?t=an&s=hb&uid=24312681243126812&sid=343126

24. Benign Essential Blepharospasm Information Page: National Institute Of Neurologi Benign Essential blepharospasm information sheet compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/blepharospasm/blepharospasm.htm

Accessible version Science for the Brain The nation's leading supporter of biomedical research on disorders of the brain and nervous system More about Benign Essential Blepharospasm Studies with patients Research literature Press releases Search NINDS... (help) Contact Us My Privacy NINDS is part of the National Institutes of Health You are here: Home Disorders Benign Essential Blepharospasm NINDS Benign Essential Blepharospasm Information Page Synonym(s): Blepharospasm Get Web page suited for printing Email this to a friend or colleague 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, Is there any treatment?

25. Coexistent Blepharospasm And Hemifacial Spasm Overlapping Coexistent blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm overlapping pathophysiologic mechanism? EK Tan1 , L-L Chan2 and K-K Koh3 http://tmsyn.wc.ask.com/r?t=an&s=hb&uid=24312681243126812&sid=343126

26. BBC - Health - Conditions - Blepharospasm of the causes, symptoms and treatment of blepharospasmDescription of the causes, symptoms and treatment of blepharospasm....... http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/blepharospasm1.shtml

@import url('/includes/tbenh.css') ; Home TV Radio Talk ... A-Z Index THURSDAY 8th September 2005 Text only BBC Homepage Lifestyle Health ... Help Like this page? Send it to a friend! Blepharospasm Dr Rob Hicks Blepharospasm is an involuntary contraction of one of the muscles that controls the eyelids, causing them to close. In this article What are the symptoms? What causes it? How's it treated? Blepharo means eyelid and spasm means uncontrolled muscle contraction. The eyes are normal but this prolonged closure obstructs vision. What are the symptoms? Usually excessive blinking and/or eye irritation signals the onset of blepharospasm. Initially it may happen only in response to triggers such as stress, tiredness, or bright light. If the condition progresses, the spasms happen more frequently. This not only makes performing everyday tasks difficult, but may make it impossible for the affected person to see at all. What causes it? It's unclear precisely what causes blepharospasm. It's believed that abnormal functioning of part of the brain that coordinates movement, is partly responsible. This is possibly related to chemical messenger transmission disturbance. Other possible causes include: photophobia (intolerance to light), damage to the cornea (dome that forms the front of the eyeball) or dystonia (abnormal muscle rigidity causing spasms). Blepharospasm often occurs out of the blue for no specific reason. Rarely, it can run in families.

27. NINDS Forwarding Page Information about Benign Essential blepharospasm from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Includes description, treatment, prognosis and research. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/blepharospasm.htm

NINDS has redesigned its website and the URL for the page you were seeking has changed. The new URL for this page is /disorders/blepharospasm/blepharospasm.htm . Please update your bookmark to this page. You will be automatically taken to this page in 5 seconds, or you can click the link to go there now.

28. The Dystonia Society Registered Charity - Information And Support on different types of dystonia, including cervical dystonia (also known as torticollis), blepharospasm, oromandibular dystonia and http://tmsyn.wc.ask.com/r?t=an&s=hb&uid=24312681243126812&sid=343126

29. Eye Conditions > Blepharospasm -- EyeMDLink.com blepharospasm refers to uncontrolled closure or blinking of the eyes. Benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) is the most common type of blepharospasm. http://www.eyemdlink.com/Condition.asp?ConditionID=77

30. EyeMD Link An article about blepharospasm, what it is, treatment and testing details. http://www.eyemdlink.com/conditions/blepharospasm.htm

Conditions Anatomy Procedures Specialties ... Vitreo-retinal We subscribe to the HONcode principles. Verify here Inside EyeMDLink.com Thursday, September 08, 2005 Find out which foods and supplements may reduce your risk of vision loss CK a new procedure for the farsighted A new refractive surgery that uses radio frequency energy to reshape the eye's cornea. A proven therapy for an age-old eye disease Retina expert, Rajiv Anand, M.D. discusses Photodynamic Therapy and how it's changing the treatment of "wet" macular degeneration. Botox™ for wrinkles A well-known cosmetic surgeon answers common questions about this simple non-surgical procedure. New Laser Therapy for AMD Which refractive surgery is right for you? Cataract surgery and the diabetic patient Macular degeneration and smoking Search a comprehensive database of eye diseases and disorders... more Doctors! Get your practice noticed with an ingenious system that addresses your website and your patient referral needs When using a hammer, always wear protective eyewear preferably goggles

31. Benign Essential Blepharospasm / Family Village Library Email bebrf@blepharospasm.org Web http//www.blepharospasm.org/. The Benign Essential blepharospasm Research Foundation has a mission to promote, http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/lib_beb.htm

Benign Essential Blepharospasm Who to Contact Where to Go to Chat with Others Learn More About It Web Sites ... Search Google for "Benign Essential Blepharospasm" Who to Contact Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation P.O. Box 12468 Beaumont, TX USA 77726-2468 Tel: (409) 832-0788 Fax: (409) 832-0890 E-mail: bebrf@blepharospasm.org Web: http://www.blepharospasm.org/ The Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation has a mission to promote, develop and carry on the search for the cause and a cure for Benign Essential Blepharospasm and other related disorders and infirmities of the facial musculature. The Foundation publishes a bi-monthly newsletter and has pamphlets and patient packets available at no charge. They have a video Lending Library available for no charge. Where to Go to Chat with Others Newsgroup: alt.support.dystonia Learn More About It What is blepharospasm? Blepharospasm Benign Essential Blepharospasm Information Page From the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Blepharospasm, Benign Essential

32. WE MOVE - Focal Dystonias: Blepharospasm This form of focal dystonia also affects women more frequently than men, with symptoms typically becoming apparent after age 50. http://www.wemove.org/dys/dys_fbleph.html

WE MOVE 204 West 84th Street New York, NY 10024 E-mail: wemove@wemove.org Blepharospasm This form of focal dystonia also affects women more frequently than men, with symptoms typically becoming apparent after age 50. The term blepharospasm refers to intermittent or sustained closure of the eyelids due to abnormal, involuntary contractions or spasms of certain muscles that function to close the eyelids. Some individuals with blepharospasm experience relatively mild spasms of the muscle underlying the skin of the eyebrows and the root of the nose as well as of the middle and lower facial muscles. These spasms may resulting grimacing or facial distortions. The condition is sometimes called essential blepharospasm or dystonic blepharospasm. In some patients, blepharospasm may begin in just one eye ( unilateral ). Initial signs of the condition include eye irritation and burning, an increased sensitivity to light (photophobia), and excessive blinking. With disease progression, patients may experience narrowing of the opening of the eyelids due to dystonia muscle contractions; involuntary, potentially forceful closure of the eyelids; and an inability to voluntarily raise the eyelids in order to open their eyes. Excessive blinking and involuntary eyelid closure may be temporarily relieved by certain sensory tricks, including singing, humming, or talking; laughing; yawning; opening the mouth; chewing; or applying pressure on the eyebrows, temple, or skin next to the eyes. These dystonic spasms generally disappear with sleep. In contrast, symptoms may worsen with stress, walking, reading, exposure to bright light, looking upward, watching television, or driving. Accordingly, blepharospasm may cause varying levels of difficulty with daily tasks, including reading and driving. Without treatment, blepharospasm often results in functional blindness, although vision may be normal.

33. ASOPRS Essential Blepharospasm And Hemifacial Spasm The purpose of ASOPRS is to advance education, research and the quality of clinical practice in the fields of aesthetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery http://www.asoprs.org/spasm.htm

Essential Blepharospasm and Hemifacial Spasm... Essential blepharospasm is a debilitating disorder of progressive involuntary spasms of the eyelid muscles (orbicularis oculi). Other muscles in the face or neck may be involved as well. Terms that sometimes are used in the description of this problem include dystonia (impaired or disordered muscle tone) and dyskinesia (a defect in voluntary movement). The onset of blepharospasm is typically in the fifth to sixth decade and is more common in women than in men. Although the cause of essential blepharospasm is incompletely understood, it is thought to be a result of "miscommunication" in the area(s) of the brain responsible for control of the involved muscles. The onset of essential blepharospasm usually is heralded by an increase in blinking or squinting with progression toward repetitive forceful closure and difficulty opening the eyelids. Blepharospasm is often made worse by stress, fatigue, bright lights, watching television or driving, and social interactions. Functional blindness in the presence of an otherwise normal visual system may result. Sleep, relaxation, walking, talking and other "tricks" may alleviate symptoms temporarily. Systemic medications have limited efficacy in treating the disease. However, some patients do benefit from such therapy alone or in conjunction with other treatment modalities. Local injection of a medication called botulinum toxin (brand name: Oculinum, Allergan Pharmaceuticals) last two to three months, after which time the injections need to be repeated for continued relief. As with any medication, "Oculinum" has side effects; fortunately, these typically are mild and temporary. For those patients who do not respond to "Oculinum" and/or systemic medications, there are surgical options. Excision of the involved muscles (myectomy) can decrease blepharospasm and has been shown to be superior to procedures that remove the nerve that stimulates the spasming muscles (facial neurectomy or nerve avulsion).

34. Information About Blepharospasm Individuals with blepharospasm have normal eyes. blepharospasm may decrease or cease while a person is sleeping or concentrating on a specific task http://www.mamashealth.com/eye/blepo.asp

Mamashealth.com Home Eye Health Amblyopia Aniridia Astigmatism Bietti's Crystalline Dystrophy ... Sty Links Email Mama What is Blepharospasm? Blepharospasm is an abnormal, involuntary blinking, eyelid tic, or spasm of the eyelids. Individuals with blepharospasm have normal eyes. Blepharospasm may decrease or cease while a person is sleeping or concentrating on a specific task Individuals with blepharospasm have normal eyes. Their vision may be disturbed, but only because of the forced closure of the eyelids. Blepharospasm is also called benign essential blepharospasm, and hemifacial spasm. What causes Blepharospasm? The exact cause of blepharospasm is unknown. However, it is often associated with dry eyes, Tourette's syndrome, and tardive dyskinesia. What are the symptoms of Blepharospasm? The most common symptoms are: gradual increase in blinking or eye irritation fatigue sensitivity to bright light. facial spasms may develop Can Blepharospasm be Treated? Blepharospasm can be treated but not cured. The treatments are designed to reduce its severity. Some of the treatment options are: injection of medicines to paralyze muscles (like botox) surgery to remove some of the muscles and nerves of the eyelids acupuncture Food For Thought Fiber..

35. Introduction: Benign Essential Blepharospasm - WrongDiagnosis.com Introduction to Benign essential blepharospasm as a medical condition including symptoms, diagnosis, misdiagnosis, treatment, prevention, and prognosis. http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/b/benign_essential_blepharospasm/intro.htm

Home Symptoms Diseases Risks ... Diseases Search our medical database Subscribe to our free Newsletter sample Send this page to a friend Condition Lists By Organ By Symptom By Class By Prevalence ... List A-Z Current chapter: Benign essential blepharospasm Next sections Basic Summary for Benign essential blepharospasm Prognosis of Benign essential blepharospasm Symptoms of Benign essential blepharospasm Complications of Benign essential blepharospasm ... Treatments for Benign essential blepharospasm Next chapters: Binswanger's Disease Brachial Plexus Injury Brown-Sequard Syndrome Canavan disease ... Feedback Introduction: Benign essential blepharospasm Benign essential blepharospasm: Involuntary eyelid movements. 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 sustained muscle contractions cause twitching and repetitive movements. Researching symptoms of Benign essential blepharospasm: Further information about the symptoms of Benign essential blepharospasm is available including a list of symptoms of Benign essential blepharospasm , or alternatively return to research other symptoms in the symptom center Treatments for Benign essential blepharospasm: Various information is available about treatments available for Benign essential blepharospasm , or research treatments for other diseases.

36. Symptoms Of Benign Essential Blepharospasm - WrongDiagnosis.com Symptoms of Benign essential blepharospasm including signs, symptoms, incubation period, duration, and correct diagnosis. http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/b/benign_essential_blepharospasm/symptoms.htm

Home Symptoms Diseases Risks ... Benign essential blepharospasm Search our medical database Subscribe to our free Newsletter sample Send this page to a friend Condition Lists By Organ By Symptom By Class By Prevalence ... List A-Z Current chapter: Benign essential blepharospasm Next sections Complications of Benign essential blepharospasm Treatments for Benign essential blepharospasm Doctors and Medical Specialists for Benign essential blepharospasm Articles about Benign essential blepharospasm ... Glossary for Benign essential blepharospasm Next chapters: Binswanger's Disease Brachial Plexus Injury Brown-Sequard Syndrome Canavan disease ... Feedback Symptoms of Benign essential blepharospasm General information about symptoms of Benign essential blepharospasm: The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible symptoms of Benign essential blepharospasm. This symptom information has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of symptoms of Benign essential blepharospasm. Furthermore, symptoms of Benign essential blepharospasm may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of symptoms and whether they are indeed symptoms of Benign essential blepharospasm. List of symptoms of Benign essential blepharospasm: The list of symptoms mentioned in various sources for Benign essential blepharospasm includes: Progressive worsening of eyelid spasms Occasional eye blinking Occasional eye irritation Involuntary winking

37. Blepharospasm blepharospasm is uncontrollable blinking of the eyelid which makes it appear as if the person is continually winking. http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/880000031.html

Search Articles: search tips Please Take the HealthLink Survey Email this article Print this article Find related articles: By topic: By keywords: Receive Health Link via email! Subscribe now >> Blepharospasm Q: I am suffering from blepharospasm, also referred to as Meige's syndrome. As a result, I am unable to look at people when they are speaking to me, watch TV or read. When I attempt to walk, I literally have to hold one of my eyes open with my hand and walk looking down at the floor cautiously. I have received Botox shots and it doesn't help me. I took Artane and was taken to the hospital for slow heart beat. I need your advice on how to further treat this. A: Blepharospasm is uncontrollable blinking of the eyelid which makes it appear as if the person is continually winking. Besides being annoying and making life difficult, it can also be painful. Botox injections, which you received, are the treatment of choice and usually 90-95% effective. Since this is one those ironic, fascinating twists in medicine where a substance goes from "threat to cure," let me briefly explain what it is. Botulinum toxin, made by a bacterium called Clostridium botolinum, is one of the most potent poisons known to man. The bacteria, which are found in soil, untreated water, and intestines of animals and fish, produce spores which multiply in the absence of air. These spores thrive in improperly preserved or canned food, like cured ham, smoked fish, canned vegetables (That's why those of you who are doing a lot of home canning this summer need to be sure you sterilize the items well by pressure cooking at 250 degrees F for 30 minutes). Within eight to 36 hours after eating contaminated food, a person may develop difficulty swallowing or speaking, see double, have nausea and vomiting. The toxin causes progressive paralysis of the nerves and can lead to death if untreated.

38. Brain Foundation - Blepharospasm Benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) is a progressive neurological disorder blepharospasm should not be confused with Ptosis drooping of the eyelids http://www.brainaustralia.org.au/AZ_of_Brain_Disorders/blepharospasm

Home About Us The Brain Healthy Brain ... Site Map DHTML_MENU_rel_path = '/squizlib/dhtml_menu/images/'; Blepharospasm (Benign Essential Blepharospasm) Description Benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions and spasms of the eyelid muscles. It is not life-threatening It is a form of dystonia, a movement disorder in which sustained muscle contractions cause twitching and 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. Blepharospasm should not be confused with: Ptosis - drooping of the eyelids caused by weakness or paralysis of a levator muscle of the upper eyelid, Blepharitis - an inflammatory condition of the lids due to infection or allergies or Hemifacial spasm - a non-dystonic condition involving various muscles on one side of the face, often including the eyelid, and caused by irritation of the facial nerve.

39. BCM-Neurology-Parkinson's Disease Center And Movement Disorders-blepharospasm Nature Genet 1997;174048. Cardoso F, Jankovic J. blepharospasm. blepharospasm and cranial-cervical dystonia (Meige s syndrome) familial occurence. http://www.bcm.edu/neurology/struct/parkinson/blepharospasm.html

Print This Page Close Window Blepharospasm Joseph Jankovic, M.D. Before the development of sustained closure of the eyelids, about a third of the patients report increased frequency of blinking, suggesting that blepharospasm may be due to impairment of mechanisms associated with normal blinking. The increased blinking that precedes blepharospasm is commonly associated with a feeling of irritation in the eyes. It is usually progresses to clonic and later tonic (sustained) contractions of the orbicularis oculi (facial muscles surrounding the eyes) leading to forceful closure of eyelids. Up to 20% of patients have involvement of one eye initially but the opposite eye becomes involved later in all patients. References Ozelius LJ, Hewett JW, Page CE, et al. The early onset torsion dystonia gene [DYT1] encodes an ATP-binding protein. Nature Genet 1997;17:40-48.

40. Information On Blepharospasm - Dystonia Of The Muscles Around The Eyes The Dystonia Society provided information on blepharospasm which is dystonia of the muscles around the eyes. http://www.dystonia.org.uk/about-dystonia-page7536.html

Home About Us Raising Awareness Become a member ... Contact Us You are here : Home About Dystonia Blepharospasm Blepharospasm - dystonia of the muscles around the eyes What is dystonia? Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder. It causes involuntary muscle contractions which force the affected parts of the body to develop abnormal movements or postures. Blepharospasm Blepharospasm is a focal dystonia of the muscles around the eyes and typically affects people aged between 50 and 70. It can cause uncontrollable blinking and closure of the eyelids. In extreme cases, someone with blepharospasm may be unable to prevent their eyes from clamping shut, so that, at times, they are effectively ‘blind’. Blepharospasm usually develops gradually. First symptoms may include eye irritation and discomfort, sensitivity to light and increased blinking. The severity of symptoms may vary at different times of the day or from day to day. People with blepharospasm may be symptom-free when they first wake or after resting, and may find that the condition worsens when they are tired, under stress or reading. The variability of symptoms can sometimes lead to delays in diagnosis, since the symptoms may not be apparent when patients visit their GP. Bright or flickering light (even from a television), smoke or wind can all irritate the condition. Physical activity such as walking can also cause spasms. The frequency and severity of the muscle spasms can increase over a period of one to two years and can sometimes extend into the muscles of the lower face, jaw and neck. When blepharospasm is associated with spasm of the jaw and mouth (oromandibular dystonia) it is referred to as cranial dystonia (or Meige's syndrome).

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Page 2     21-40 of 113    Back | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | Next 20