Is increased blinking a form of blepharospasm?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether increased blink rate (BR) is part of the clinical spectrum of primary blepharospasm (BSP).

METHODS

We enrolled 40 patients (16 patients with an increased BR but without typical orbicularis oculi [OO] spasms, and 24 patients with typical involuntary OO spasms) and 18 healthy subjects. The BR, blink reflex recovery cycle, and somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold (STDT) were tested in patients and controls.

RESULTS

Patients who had typical OO spasms had an altered R2 recovery cycle whereas those who had an increased BR alone had a normal blink reflex recovery cycle. STDT values were higher in patients than in healthy subjects and no difference was found in the STDT abnormalities in the 2 groups of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that, despite the similar STDT abnormalities, the different changes in the R2 recovery cycle in patients with BSP and those with increased BR alone suggest that these disorders arise from different pathologic mechanisms.