blepharospasm

[blef-er-uh-spaz-uhm]

noun

Pathology.

1. spasmodic winking.

blepharospasm

/ ˈblɛfərəʊˌspæzəm /

noun

1. spasm of the muscle of the eyelids, causing the eyes to shut tightly, either as a response to painful stimuli or occurring as a form of dystonia

Word History and Origins

Origin of blepharospasm¹

First recorded in 1870–75; blepharo- ( def. ) + spasm

Word History and Origins

Origin of blepharospasm¹

C19: from Greek blepharo ( n ) eyelid + _spasm

Example Sentences

He founded a company, Oculinum, to produce a drug by the same name, which the FDA approved in 1989 for the treatment of strabismus and blepharospasm.

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They concluded that the treatment is generally safe and effective for four neurological conditions: chronic migraine, spasticity in adults, cervical dystonia and blepharospasm.

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Leber has recently joined those cases which are described as blindness through blepharospasm, to amblyopia from disuse.

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Last year she underwent surgery to correct her blepharospasm, a condition causing her eyes to stay shut.

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There is also a condition called blepharospasm in which the main symptom is repetitive, often forceful or spasmodic blinking or closing of the eyes.

Read more on New York Times