Research Article

Relationship between eye symptoms and blepharospasm: A multicenter case–control study

  1. Davide Martino MD1,
  2. Giovanni Defazio MD, PhD1,*,
  3. Giovanni Alessio MD2,
  4. Giovanni Abbruzzese MD3,
  5. Paolo Girlanda MD4,
  6. Michele Tinazzi MD5,
  7. Giovanni Fabbrini MD6,
  8. Lucio Marinelli MD3,
  9. Giovanni Majorana MD4,
  10. Maria Buccafusca MD4,
  11. Laura Vacca MD6,
  12. Paolo Livrea MD1,
  13. Alfredo Berardelli MD6

Article first published online: 9 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1002/mds.20635

Issue

Movement Disorders

Movement Disorders

Volume 20, Issue 12, pages 1564–1570, December 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Martino, D., Defazio, G., Alessio, G., Abbruzzese, G., Girlanda, P., Tinazzi, M., Fabbrini, G., Marinelli, L., Majorana, G., Buccafusca, M., Vacca, L., Livrea, P. and Berardelli, A. (2005), Relationship between eye symptoms and blepharospasm: A multicenter case–control study. Movement Disorders, 20: 1564–1570. doi: 10.1002/mds.20635

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy

  2. 2

    Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy

  3. 3

    Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology, and Genetics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

  4. 4

    Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry, and Anesthesiology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

  5. 5

    Department of Neurology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

  6. 6

    Department of Neurological Sciences and Neuromed Institute, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy

*Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, I-70124 Bari, Italy

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 31 OCT 2005
  2. Article first published online: 9 AUG 2005
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 12 MAR 2005
  4. Manuscript Revised: 11 FEB 2005
  5. Manuscript Received: 9 NOV 2004

Funded by

  • Italian Ministry for Education, University, and Research
  • Epidemiology, Genetics, and Pathophysiology of Adult-Onset Dystonia)

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Keywords:

  • ocular symptoms;
  • blepharospasm;
  • dry eye syndrome;
  • age

Abstract

Although patients with primary blepharospasm (BSP) commonly report experiencing ocular symptoms before the onset of orbicular spasms, the precise frequency and pathogenic role of this subjective ocular discomfort are poorly understood. We conducted a multicenter case–control study to investigate symptoms related to disorders of the anterior segment of the eye, administering a questionnaire to 165 patients with BSP and 180 age- and gender-matched control patients with hemifacial spasm. On a validation sample, our questionnaire yielded high accuracy in detecting eye diseases (predominantly, dry eye syndrome) using detailed ophthalmological examination as the criterion. Logistic regression analysis indicated a significant association between ocular symptoms at disease onset and BSP. Ocular symptoms starting in the year preceding disease onset (short-latency symptoms) showed a stronger association with BSP than ocular symptoms occurring earlier in time (long-latency symptoms). The association was stronger when short-latency symptoms developed from 40 to 59 years of age, whereas this was not observed for long-latency symptoms. Our findings support the view that eye symptoms associated with BSP result from eye diseases and may be involved in the pathogenesis of BSP. The differential risk of developing BSP, based on age at onset of ocular symptoms, suggests that age and eye diseases may interact in giving rise to BSP. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society

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