Five-Year Retrospective Review of Cases with Benign Essential Blepharospasm and Hemifacial Spasm Presenting in a Tertiary Eye Care Center in North India.

Retrospective analysis of epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with benign essential blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm who reported to the oculoplasty clinic of a tertiary eye care center in north India between January 2010 and April 2015 was carried out. Dry eye, as well as all the local factors that can cause blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm, was ruled out. Systemic evaluation was done to rule out any neurological disorder. A detailed history was taken to rule out any associated psychiatric disorders as well as use of any medication which could be responsible for dystonic movements. In every patient of hemifacial spasm, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain was done for any facial nerve compression or tumor involving posterior fossa. Botulinum type A injections were given after assessing their requirements on the basis of guidelines given by Jankovic et al.