Hemifacial spasms happen when the muscles on only one side of your face twitch without warning. These types of spasms are caused by damage or irritation to the facial nerve, which is also known as the seventh cranial nerve. Facial spasms occur when the muscles contract involuntarily because of this nerve irritation. Hemifacial spasms are also known as tic convulsif. At first, they may appear only as small, barely noticeable tics around your eyelid, cheek, or mouth. Over time, the tics may expand to other parts of your face.
Hemifacial Spasm (HFS) | Healthcare | Baylor College of Medicine | Houston, Texas
Jump to content. The three most common types of eyelid spasms are eyelid twitch, essential blepharospasm, and hemifacial spasm. The symptoms described above may not necessarily mean that you have eyelid spasms. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your ophthalmologist for a complete exam. These conditions are distinguished by a careful clinical examination.
An eyelid twitch, or myokymia, is a repetitive, involuntary spasm of the eyelid muscles. A twitch usually occurs in the upper lid, but it can occur in both the upper and lower lids. Others may experience a spasm strong enough to force both eyelids to close completely. This is a different condition called blepharospasm.
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