| name: | Blinking |
| also known as: | Eyelid Spasm |
| also see: | Facial Paralysis; Trigeminal Neuralgia; Herpes Zoster; Tourette Syndrome |
| description: | The 7th cranial nerve supplies motor function to the muscles of the face including the muscles that control blinking (obicularis oculi). (The ability to open the eyelids, on the other hand, is controlled by the 3rd cranial nerve supplying motor to the levator muscle). Blinking is a normal involuntary process, just like the heart beating or the lungs breathing. Blinking serves to help keep the surface of the eyeball clear of debris and to spread the lubricating tears that are produced by the lacrimal gland. Causes of abnormal blinking, such as too much blinking or spasmodic blinking can include excessive dirt, debris, retained foreign material, excessive dry eyes, contact lenses, facial spasm, trigeminal neuralgia, Parkinson's disease, recovery from facial paralysis, recovery from Bell's palsy, Tourette syndrome, as well as other causes. |
| signs & symptoms: | Includes constant, excessive blinking. |
| diagnosis: | Based on signs, symptoms, history and exam. Blinking that is beyond the normal and that is persistent, especially if it causes facial contortion, might require additional work-up and diagnostic tests. |
| treatment: | Treatment for blinking associated with dirt, debris, mild dryness and irritating contact lenses might include showering rinsing, sterile balanced salt solution rinsing, liquid tears liberally such as ReFresh, cleaning contact lenses, waiting several hours after getting up in the morning before placing contact lenses, wearing breathable contact lenses, wearing disposable contact lenses, and using eye whiteners at bedtime, such as visine or murine. Any blinking that is possibly associated with an underlying condition is treated accordingly. |
| prevention: | None. |
| outcome: | Mild cases of blinking resolve with conservative home remedies. |
skynetMD suggests the following:
| if: | If the person has blinking associated with facial spasm or with other symptoms, or if the blinking is relentless and frequent, or, if the blinking is associated with retained debris or facial contortion |
| go to: | Go to the doctor. |
Last updated 3/27/2009