Chronic myokymia limited to the eyelid is a benign condition.

BACKGROUND: Eyelid myokymia, unlike myokymia of the other facial muscles, is assumed to be a benign, self-limited disorder. However, no systematic follow-up study has been performed on patients with chronic, isolated eyelid myokymia to verify its benign nature.

METHODS: Retrospective single-institution chart review of 15 patients examined between 1983 and 2002 with a diagnosis of isolated eyelid myokymia who have had at least 12 months of follow-up.

RESULTS: In all patients, symptoms began as unilateral, weekly or biweekly, intermittent eyelid spasms, and progressed to daily spasms over several months. The mean duration of symptoms at first examination was 91 months (range 2.5 months to 20 years). In no patient was the myokymia the first manifestation of a neurologic disease, although one patient progressed to ipsilateral hemifacial spasm. Thirteen patients (86.7%) underwent neuroimaging that gave negative results. The myokymia resolved spontaneously in four patients. Of the remaining 11 patients, eight were treated with botulinum toxin injection at regular intervals, with most reporting an improvement in symptoms.

CONCLUSION: Chronic isolated eyelid myokymia is a benign condition. It tends not to progress to other facial movement disorders or to be associated with other neurologic disease. It responds well to treatment with botulinum toxin.