Blepharospasm

Blepharospasm is the name for a condition in which the eye blinks excessively and involuntarily. It usually occurs in persons in their 50's or 60's, and to women more commonly than men.

While its cause is not yet known, it is believed that blepharospasm is caused when there is a miscommunication among the signals between the brain and the eye muscle. The patient may also experience spasms of the face and neck muscles as well. Some people may have an episode of blepharospasm while for others, it becomes a chronic condition. Several treatments exist to help control the spasm.