Chronic (neuropathic) corneal pain and blepharospasm: Five case reports

Summary Case histories of patients with corneal pain and changes in the nerve plexus and blepharospasm suggest potential involvement of the basal ganglia in both conditions. Pain and focal dystonias have been associated with chronic pain conditions such as complex regional pain syndrome. Corneal pain, frequently known as “dry eye”, may be a neuropathic pain condition with abnormalities of the nerve plexus. Here we present 5 case histories of patients with defined corneal pain (with associated neuropathic features) and objective measures of changes in the nerve plexus and associated blepharospasm. A putative relationship between pain and blepharospasm suggests potential involvement of the basal ganglia in both these conditions.