What is Blepharospasm?

Blephrospasm is an unexplained, involuntary spasm and convulsion of muscles in the innervation of the facial nerve. It occurs in middle-aged and elderly people. It is a neurological disease that causes great pain to the patient's spirit and body, and also has a great impact. Beautiful.

English name: Blepharospasm
Visiting department: Ophthalmology
Whether it is contagious: no

Disease site: Eye
Can it be cured: Can be cured
Common symptoms: Involuntary repetition with intense closed eyes

Causes of blepharospasm

There are two types of eyelid and facial muscle spasms: primary blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm.

Modern medicine believes that blepharospasm is a functional disease of the nervous system and may be caused by many factors. But its exact pathogenesis is still unknown.

With the birth of new technology, foreign countries have carried out in-depth research on the pathogenesis of this disease. The most famous and valuable theory is the use of brain stem magnetic resonance angiography technology for short, MRA, to observe the abnormalities of blood vessels in the brain stem. Interrelationships of the facial brainstem. It is found that the cause is often the facial nerve compressed by blood vessels or tumors in the cerebellar pontine angle, thus revealing its true cause.

The facial nerve exiting the brainstem is the junction of central (oligodendrocytes) and peripheral (Schwann cells) myelin sheaths, which are vulnerable to vascular compression. Facial nerve vascular compression and demyelination are two necessary conditions for causing eyelid spasm. The increased excitability of facial nerve movement plays an important role in the occurrence of eyelid spasm. It also supports the pathophysiology basis of facial nerve spasm. Sexual increase hypothesis.

Clinical manifestations of blepharospasm

The duration of convulsions can be long or short, and the convulsions are manifested by the repeated repeated involuntary closed eyes. Many patients with blepharospasm have endured a considerable amount of pain before a clear diagnosis and treatment is obtained, and they often delay timely treatment due to misdiagnosis.

(I) Primary blepharospasm: It is caused by the spastic contraction of the orbicularis muscle, and the eyelid does not close randomly. It is often a bilateral lesion and progresses progressively. Two-thirds are women, and most of them are older than 60 years old. Its cause is unknown. The frequency and time of the spasms are different. Paroxysmal orbital muscles of the light or frequent minor convulsions do not affect the opening of the eyes. Severe convulsions are obvious, which makes it difficult to open the eyes, affect the sight, and cause functional blindness. Most patients' symptoms stabilize within 3-5 years. One third of patients have associated motor abnormalities such as Meige syndrome, primary tremor, or Parkinson's disease. Diagnosis should exclude secondary blepharospasm caused by keratoconjunctivitis, trichiasis, and blepharitis.

Drug physical therapy for this disease includes: clonazepam, antan, etc., acupuncture, percutaneous facial nerve pyrolysis, etc., but all have little effect. Surgical treatments include: orbicularis muscle, eyebrow muscle resection combined with eyebrowplasty, levator levator reinforcement, facial nerve selective extraction combined with muscle dissection, but these methods are not effective, the former have side effects: forehead numbness , Eyelid edema, the latter may have severe complications of facial nerve palsy, manifested as drooping eyebrows, rabbit eyes, corneal exposure, ectropion. 50% of patients relapse.

(II) Hemifacial spasm: It involves unilateral lesions and periodic tonic contraction of the facial muscles. The spasms usually start with the orbicularis oris muscle and gradually spread to other parts of the area, which can occur whether sleeping or waking. Often since middle age, women are more common. May be accompanied by unilateral muscle weakness. The cause is usually the seventh cerebral nerve root in the cerebellar pontine angle by the vascular structure or tumor compression. Vascular disease accounts for 90% of cases, and less than 1% of cases are due to posterior fossa tumors. Medications include carbamazepine, diazepam, phenytoin, etc., as well as biofeedback. Surgical treatments include myomectomy. Selective facial resection. However, complications such as hearing loss, otitis media, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage can occur.

Blepharospasm

There were no characteristic changes on MRI and CT scans.

Eyelid Spasm Treatment

The treatment of blepharospasm requires first identifying the specific cause. Occasional blepharospasm is normal; frequent blepharospasm requires surgery, such as closed treatment, which has a certain effect.

Blepharospasm prognosis

The prognosis is generally good.

Eyelid spasm prevention

1. Pay attention to rest and maintain adequate sleep.

2. Keep a relaxed and happy mood.

Eyelid cramps diet

Spicy and irritating foods should be avoided, and fresh vegetables and fruits should be eaten. Qi and blood-enriching foods should be selected, which is beneficial to both treatment and prevention.

1, should eat more: fresh vegetables, coarse grains such as beans, soy products, pumpkin, corn, onion, lean meat, hawthorn, purple box, kelp, jujube, bitter gourd, loofah, winter melon, cucumber, melon, banana, mulberry .

2, should not eat: cold and greasy irritating food, not easy to digest, hot tonic, hot food, tobacco and alcohol, sheep, dog meat, animals, fish, pepper.