Novel mechanism for benign essential blepharospasm.

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Publication Type Journal Article
School or College School of Medicine
Department Neurology
Creator Digre, Kathleen B.
Title Novel mechanism for benign essential blepharospasm.
Date 1999-11-15
Description PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that the photophobia of benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) is caused by sympathetically maintained pain. METHODS: Nineteen patients with photophobia and BEB were enrolled in an unblinded prospective treatment trial. The intervention was blockade of the superior sympathetic ganglion with local anesthetic. Outcome measures included the patient's subjective report of ocular surface dryness, foreign body sensation, and eyelid spasm. We also obtained video recordings of eyelid movements. RESULTS: Of the 19 patients, 13 reported subjective improvement in BEB symptoms after cervical sympathetic blockade (CSB). Thirteen of 19 patients also had objective evidence of decreased light-induced eyelid spasm after CSB. Ocular surface disease was present in 18 of 19 patients. CONCLUSION: These data support the hypothesis that in many patients with BEB there is a sympathetically maintained pain syndrome associated with external ocular disease. We speculate on a neurologic circuit that may explain these findings.
Type Text
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins for the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Volume 15
Issue 6
First Page 384
Last Page 389
Subject Blepharospasm, Autonomic Nerve Block, Blepharospasm, Superior Cervical Ganglion, Lidocaine, Pain
Subject MESH Photophobia; Pain; Ocular Physiology
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation McCann, J. D., Gauthier, M., Morschbacher, R., Goldberg, R. A., Anderson, R. L., Fine, P. G., & Digre, K. B. (1999). A novel mechanism for benign essential blepharospasm. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg, 15(6), 384-9.
Rights Management Copyright © Wolters Kluwer, [Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg, 15(6), 384-9, 1999]
Format Extent application/pdf
Identifier 1,512,195 bytes
ARK ark:/87278/s6vh65xw
Setname ir_uspace
ID 702377
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6vh65xw
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