Essential blepharospasm (uncontrolled eye closure) is an idiopathic disorder characterized by involuntary spasm of the eyelids and sometimes other facial muscles. Most patients also have dry, irritated eyes and in most patients, symptoms are worse when exposed to sunlight or bright lights indoors.

A blepharospasm (from Greek: blepharo, eyelid, and spasm, an uncontrolled muscle contraction), is any abnormal tic or twitch of the eyelid.

It normally refers to benign essential blepharospasm, a focal dystonia—a neurological movement disorder involving involuntary and sustained muscle contractions of the muscles around the eyes. Benign means the condition is not life threatening. Essential indicates that the cause is unknown, but fatigue, stress, or an irritant are possible contributing factors. Symptoms sometimes last for a few days then disappear without treatment, but in most cases the twitching is chronic and persistent, causing lifelong challenges. The symptoms are often severe enough to result in functional blindness. The person's eyelids feel like they are clamping shut and will not open without great effort. Patients have normal eyes, but for periods of time are effectively blind due to their inability to open their eyelids.

Although strides have recently been made in early diagnosis, blepharospasm is often initially mis-diagnosed as allergies or "dry eye syndrome". It is a fairly rare disease, affecting only one in every 15,000 people in the world.

Botox injections are the initial treatment and Dr. Shome has researched newer uses of Botox for the treatment of blepharospasm. Most blepharospasm patients in this region come to The Esthetic Clinic to receive Botox injections.

Some patients' symptoms cannot be controlled with Botox alone and for this group of patients, Dr. Shome performs myectomy surgery. Dr. Shome is one of few surgeons who performs this surgery. Patients are referred from all over the world for Myectomy surgery. Many patients with blepharospasm also develop eyelid malposition and come to The Esthetic Clinic for treatment.

Visit the Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation for more information on this disorder.
http://www.blepharospasm.org/

To look at a video of an individual invalidated by blepharospasm:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9U3sI4RMP8&feature=related