Blepharospasm

The involuntary, forcible closure of the eyelids. The first symptoms may be uncontrollable blinking. Only one eye may be affected initially, but eventually both eyes are usually involved. The spasms may leave the eyelids completely closed causing functional blindness even though the eyes and vision are normal. Blepharospasm is a form of focal dystonia.

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bleph·a·ro·spasm 'blef-ə-rō-.spaz-əm, -rə- n spasmodic winking from involuntary contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle of the eyelids

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n.

involuntary tight contraction of the eyelids, either in response to painful conditions of the eye or as a form of dystonia.

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bleph·a·ro·spasm (blefґə-ro-spaz″əm) [blepharo- + spasm] tonic spasm of the orbicularis oculi muscle, producing more or less complete closure of the eyelids.