Is it blepharospasm?


Posted by Ruth D. Barth ® , Dec 05,2001,09:43   Archive
I am new to this bulletin board. I don't know if I have this disease and thought I would check with you who are more familiar with it. My doctor tells me I just have dry eyes. Every morning when I open my eyes they go into spasm, sometimes one eye, sometimes the other and they are very painful for a few seconds. I look in the mirror and see I am squinting. They open in a few seconds. Pressing on them makes them open faster. I have had glaucoma for a number of years. At first I thought my eye drops caused this to happen, but it doesn't seem so. When I put in Tears Naturelle a few times during the day, it doesn't happen but I feel a burning pain on waking up. I also have muscle spasms in my knees which have been diagnosed as arthritis. Any advice would be appreciated. If my eye doctor continues to deny this, who would I go to for a diagnosis? Any help you could give me would be appreciated.



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Re: Is it blepharospasm?

Re : Is it blepharospasm? --- Ruth D. Barth
Posted by Lynn Yarbrough ® , Dec 05,2001,11:25 Top of Thread Archive
From what you have told us it doesn't sound like BEB, but by all means go to the BEBRF and get the names of Neuro-Opthal.'s in your area and get it checked out.

If you have a video camera, or a friend who has one, make a video of yourself while you are having the spasms. Otherwise you can't really see what is going on, because you can't see yourself blink. This will also be nice to take to your Dr. so S/HE can see what happens when s/he's not there!

A major symptom of BEB is facial-mask blinking, in which not only the eyelids but the brows and cheek muscles show signs of spasms. If you Don't get any of that, then it's likely just dry eyes. If you do see full facial-mask activity, it's probably BEB.

--- Lynn




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Re: Is it blepharospasm?

Re : Is it blepharospasm? --- Ruth D. Barth
Posted by June in Toronto ® (June Floyd,June in Toronto), Dec 05,2001,13:06 Top of Thread Archive
Welcome to the bb, Ruth, sorry to hear you are having this trouble. It sure sounds like beb to me - your symptoms are the ones I had when it first started. I was told it was dry eye as well - which it is, but its also beb/meige.

I would think you should contact the BEBRF and get their written information on the subject and see a movement disorder specialist for diagnosis. I don't know if Tears Naturale (the bottle) has a preservative in it - but you should really use a product that doesn't. I use Allergan Refresh Tears (it contains purite but that's ok) or Refresh Plus (individual doses) and at night I use Lacri-lube (its a bit messy but cover with eye blinds (wash them each day), and rinse eyelids each morning with a baby shampoo or a lid-care product. These eye drops, etc. should really help with the eye burning UNLESS that's a problem with your glaucoma - CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR.

Good luck and check back with us - there are a great group of people here to help and I'm sure more will answer your post.

June in Toronto (beb/meige)




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Re: Is it blepharospasm?

Re : Is it blepharospasm? --- Ruth D. Barth
Posted by Virginia ® , Dec 05,2001,14:47 Top of Thread Archive
I also was diagnosed with dry eyes at first. I agree with June that you should be diligent about preservative-free drops and ointment and have your eyes checked by a neuro-opthalmologist or movement disorder specialist (the BEBRF can give you a list of doctors in your area). I did what Lynn suggested and made a video tape of my symptoms, as they sometimes don't show up with you at appointment time. I sent mine ahead of my appointment, so the doctor could look at it before he saw me. You may not have BEB, but it is worth being checked.

Virginia in AL




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