Dry eye syndrome in benign essential blepharospasm.

[PURPOSE] To determine the significance of dry eye syndrome in benign essential blepharospasm.

[DESIGN] Retrospective consecutive case series.

[PARTICIPANTS] One hundred and forty-four patients (288 eyes) with benign essential blepharospasm.

[METHODS] All subjects had Schirmer I tear tests. Those scores were analysed as a function of patient age, sex, and blepharospasm severity.

[MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES] Individual Schirmer-test scores in both eyes of all patients.

[RESULTS] A total of 144 eligible subjects (mean age±SD: 68.3±11.5 years; 76% females) were evaluated. Benign essential blepharospasm was significantly associated with female sex (P=0.0044). The mean Schirmer-test value was 5.9±7.5 (median: 2.5) mm; it was <15mm for 86.8% of the patients and <10mm for 75%, with no difference observed between men and women (P=0.27). Dry-eye syndrome severity was not correlated with age at diagnosis, for men (r=-0.22, P=0.22) or women (r=-0.067, P=0.49), or benign essential blepharospasm severity (P=0.15), but was strongly associated with benign essential blepharospasm independently of age, sex or blepharospasm intensity.

[CONCLUSION] Dry-eye syndrome and benign essential blepharospasm are strongly linked, independently of age, sex or BEB severity, and should be considered for the diagnosis of benign essential blepharospasm. The useful symptomatic treatment of dry eye will not cure the blepharospasm or the ocular pain, and specific treatment for blepharospasm is required, i.e., quarterly injections of botulinum toxin A into the orbicularis oculi muscle.