Benign essential blepharospasm

Benign Essential Blepharospasm (BEB) is a neurological disorder that causes spasms, or twitching, of the eyelid. It is a form of dystonia, a movement disorder in which muscle contractions cause twitching or repetitive movements. These spasms and muscle contractions happen outside of a person's control. The symptoms of BEB are:

• Blinking more often
• Eye irritation
• Having a hard time keeping eyelids open, sometimes closed for long periods of time, which causes substantial visual disturbance or functional blindness
• Sensitivity to light

The spasms usually happen during the day and disappear when sleeping at night. BEB can affect men and women but is more common in middle-aged and older women. BEB is a progressive disease, meaning that it can slowly get worse with time. BEB is usually treated with botulinum toxin shots, known as Botox, or with medicine or surgery.

How can I or my loved one help improve care for people with benign essential blepharospasm?

Consider participating in a clinical trial so clinicians and scientists can learn more about BEB. Clinical research uses human volunteers to help researchers learn more about a disorder and perhaps find better ways to safely detect, treat, or prevent disease.

All types of volunteers are needed—those who are healthy or may have an illness or disease—of all different ages, sexes, races, and ethnicities to ensure that study results apply to as many people as possible, and that treatments will be safe and effective for everyone who will use them.

For information about participating in clinical research visit NIH Clinical Research Trials and You. Learn about clinical trials currently looking for people with BEB at Clinicaltrials.gov, a database of current and past clinical studies and research results.

Where can I find more information about benign essential blepharospasm?

Additional information is available from the following resources:

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center

PubMed

Content source: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/benign-essential-blepharospasm Accessed June 22, 2023.

The information in this document is for general educational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute for personalized professional advice. Although the information was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, MedLink, its representatives, and the providers of the information do not guarantee its accuracy and disclaim responsibility for adverse consequences resulting from its use. For further information, consult a physician and the organization referred to herein.