Blepharospasm, also known as benign essential blepharospasm, is a condition that occurs when one or both eyelids, the membrane over the eyes, tremble and cause a reduction in eye lubrication and causes the person to blink more frequently. .
In most cases, blepharospasm is caused by excessive fatigue, being in front of the computer for a long time, excessive consumption of caffeine-rich foods and beverages, however, in some cases, when accompanied by other symptoms such as body tremors, for example, this condition may be a sign of a neurological disease such as Tourette’s syndrome or Parkinson’s disease.
- Blepharospasm usually disappears without specific treatment.
- But if it lasts more than a month it is very common and causes a loosening of the eyelid.
- Affecting vision.
- It is important to consult an ophthalmologist to indicate the most appropriate treatment.
Blepharospasm appears as a tremor in one or both eyelids, which may or may not occur at the same time, and other symptoms may occur, such as:
In addition, blepharospasm can also cause facial spasms, that is, when the face also appears to tremble and palpebral ptosis can occur, that is, when the skin falls on the eye.
Blepharospasm is the condition that occurs when the eyelid trembles, such as muscle spasm, and this is usually caused by insufficient sleep, excessive fatigue, stress, medication use, consumption of caffeine-rich foods and beverages, such as coffee and soft drinks. or spend too much time in front of the computer or mobile phone.
In some cases, the tremor of the eyelids of the eyes may be accompanied by swelling and redness of this area, which may be a sign of blepharitis, which is an inflammation of the edges of the eyelids. See how to identify blepharitis and what treatment is indicated.
When blepharospasm is associated with body tremors, it can indicate a problem with brain muscle control and this can occur in diseases such as Tourette’s syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, dystonia or Bell’s palsy.
Blepharospasm usually disappears without specific treatment, requiring only rest, reducing stress and decreasing the amount of caffeine in the diet, however, when symptoms are very common and do not go away after 1 month, it is important to consult a family doctor or neurologist.
An eyelid exam will be done during the appointment and your doctor may indicate medications such as muscle relaxants or anxiolytics, if the person is very anxious or stressed. In the most severe cases, very small amounts of botox may be recommended as it helps relax the eyelid muscles and reduce tremors.
Myectomy surgery may also be indicated, which is the surgical procedure that aims to remove certain muscles and nerves from the eyelid, as this way it is possible to relieve the tremor. Some complementary treatments such as chiropractic, which is similar to therapeutic massages, and acupuncture, which involves applying very fine needles to the body, may be performed. Find out what acupuncture is and what it’s for.