What is Blepharospasm?
Blepharospasm is an involuntary contraction of one of the muscles that controls the eyelids, causing them to close. The person’s eyes may be normal, but this prolonged closure obstructs their vision.
What are the Symptoms of Blepharospasm?
Excessive blinking and/or eye irritation usually signal the onset of blepharospasm. Initially it may only occur 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 are the Causes of Blepharospasm?
It’s unclear precisely what causes blepharospasm. It’s believed that abnormal functioning of the part of the brain that coordinates movement is partly responsible. This is possibly related to chemical messenger transmission disturbance. Other possible causes include: Photophobia & Dystonia.
Traditional Medical Treatments for Blepharospasm
Treatments include botulinum toxin injection, medical drug therapy and surgery. Blepharospasm can be a side effect of some drugs. Changing the medication can stop it. Since stress, tiredness and bright light can trigger blepharospasm, avoiding these helps to lessen the chance of spasms occurring. Wearing sunglasses is often recommended, as is stress management.
Complementary/Alternative Treatments for Blepharospasm
Nutrients and products include: magnesium, sunglasses, herbs, homeopathic remedies, acupuncture and other alternative treatments.