Korean J Ophthalmol.  2018 Oct;32(5):339-343. 10.3341/kjo.2018.0038.

Clinical Features of Benign Essential Blepharospasm in Korean Patients

• Lee JM
• Baek JS
• Choi HS
• Kim SJ
• Jang JW

• KMID: 2422062
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2018.0038

Abstract

PURPOSE
To analyze the clinical features of benign essential blepharospasm in Korean patients.
METHODS
Patients diagnosed with benign essential blepharospasm in Kim's Eye Hospital from November 2014 to December 2016 were evaluated using a clinical examination and questionnaire. The questionnaire reviewed personal medical history, demographic factors, risk factors for blepharospasm development, and relieving and aggravating factors.
RESULTS
Of the 101 patients enrolled, 78 (77.2%) were women. The mean age was 64.9 years old. Hypertension was the most common medical disorder (42.6%), followed by diabetes mellitus. The majority of the patients were non-smokers (83.2%) and drank less than a cup of a caffeinated beverage a day (30.7%). Fifty-seven percent of patients reported no stressful events immediately prior to symptom development. Fatigue and stress were aggravating factors in more than 55% of patients; rest was the most common relieving factor (35.6%).
CONCLUSIONS
Here, we report the clinical features of benign essential blepharospasm in Korean patients for the first time. The results were consistent with previous reports showing that the majority of benign essential blepharospasm patients are women and non-smokers. In contrast to previous reports though, fatigue and stress were aggravating factors, and the most common relieving factor was rest. No stressful events had immediately preceded the development of blepharospasm in 57.4% of patients. This report may aid in treating and counseling patients with benign essential blepharospasm.

Keyword

Aggravating factor; Benign essential blepharospasm; Caffeinated beverage; Relieving factor; Smoking

MeSH Terms

Beverages
Blepharospasm*
Counseling
Demography
Diabetes Mellitus
Fatigue
Female
Humans
Hypertension
Life Change Events
Risk Factors
Smoking

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