Benign essential blepharospasm.

A 57-year-old female had vague visual complaints of pressure behind her right eye during an ocular examination. One month later the patient was visually impaired due to uncontrollable spasms of both eyelids. A diagnosis of benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) was made, and the patient was eventually treated with botulinum toxin to temporarily relieve her symptoms. I have reviewed and summarized the literature relating to the characteristics and management of this often misdiagnosed and misunderstood ocular muscular condition.