spasm of the muscle of the eyelids, causing the eyes to shut tightly, either as a response to painful stimuli or occurring as a form of dystonia
Word origin
C19: from Greek blepharo(n) eyelid + spasm
blepharospasm in American English
(ˈblefərəˌspæzəm)
noun
Pathology
spasmodic winking
Word origin
[1870–75; blepharo- + spasm]This word is first recorded in the period 1870–75. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Victorian, billing, giveaway, immobilize, washout
Examples of 'blepharospasm' in a sentence
blepharospasm
Blepharospasm is a cunning, baffling, powerful adversary.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Very little is known about dystonias like blepharospasm.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She has been diagnosed with blepharospasm, an incurable condition affecting a handful of people.
The Sun (2010)
Botox, or botulinum toxin, has had several medical applications, including treating migraine, incontinence and blepharospasm — eye spasms.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I had blepharospasm, a rare and mysterious condition - sometimes diagnosed as psychological - that prevented my eyelids from opening.