Blepharospasm

Blepharospasm is a neurological disorder characterized by intermittent, involuntary spasms and contractions of the orbicularis oculi, or eyelid, muscles around both eyes, causing abnormal twitching or blinking and, in extreme cases, sustained eyelid closure resulting in functional blindness. It is one form of a group of movement disorders called dystonia and may occur as a primary condition, known as benign essential blepharospasm, or secondary to other disorders such as dry eyes, Meige's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, or multiple sclerosis. About 2,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States, onset typically occurs between ages 40 and 60, and the condition is more than twice as frequent among women as men.