Spontaneous remission in patients with essential blepharospasm and Meige syndrome.

Abstract

To determine the frequency of remission in patients with essential blepharospasm and Meige syndrome. Retrospective analysis of patients by means of questionnaire in an institutional setting. Among 238 patients diagnosed in a single institution as having essential blepharospasm or Meige syndrome, 27 (11.3%) claimed to be symptom free without curative surgery. The average time between onset and resolution in the patients who claimed remission was 4.85 years (range, 3 months to 22 years). Among these patients, the duration of remission averaged 6.33 years (range, 1 year to 14 years). Patients with essential blepharospasm or Meige syndrome have a small but definite potential for spontaneous remission of symptoms, particularly within the first 5 years after onset of symptoms.