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Eyes
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member asked a question 💭

Does anyone experience tremors in the eyelids? I have been experiencing this for several days now and wondering if it is related to the PD. Thank you for and advise you have.

posted December 31, 2016
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A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

Yes, it's probably related. I wasn't able to find the original research article to which this online journalistic piece below refers, but I quote from it:

“In addition to the more well-known characteristics of resting tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia, Parkinson’s disease can also affect the ocular motor system,” says Denise Goodwin, O.D., Associate Professor of Optometry and Coordinator of the Neuro-ophthalmic Disease Clinic at Pacific University College of Optometry, in Oregon.

“Because Parkinson’s disease is a common disorder that can cause impaired visual function, we are likely to see these patients in our offices,” she says. “So, it’s important to be familiar with this condition and the ocular consequences.”

Several studies have looked at ocular motor movement in people with Parkinson’s disease. One recent study—the largest of its kind—found fixation instability in all 112 Parkinson’s patients.1 Of these, 63% had an amplitude significant enough to affect their vision. In comparison, just two of the 60 control subjects demonstrated a similar eye movement pattern. Interestingly, after being followed for two years, one of these two controls developed additional non-ocular parkinsonian features.

“The fact that the ocular tremor was found in every subject with Parkinson’s disease, as well as one control subject who later developed parkinsonian features, suggests that this testing may become useful in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease,” Dr. Goodwin says.

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Eyelid tremor, called "blepharospasm" by doctors is considered a kind of dystonia. Dystonias of all kinds can precede PD or occur with it. I know that I experienced these kinds of irritating tremors --off and on-- for many years before being diagnosed with PD. They certainly occur in people without PD, so people who experience eyelid tremors shouldn't consider them to be indicative of having a large risk of developing PD in the future. I think that the article overstates its diagnostic value for PD. Hope that this helps.

posted December 31, 2016
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

I have macular degeneration in my right eye and lately (a month) have felt that the eyelid of the left eye closes at odd times. and doesn't always feel quite right. I wondered about P/D being the cause and will ask my Dr next visit.

posted January 3, 2017
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

If you are already diagnosed with PD than its a part of multiple involuntary movements.

posted January 2, 2017
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

I have tremors in my eyebrows which I attribute to PD. They are more noticeable on "bad" days.

posted January 2, 2017
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

I have also had eyelid tremors for about five years before diagnosis of PD. I only realised a possible relationship after starting to take Sinemet. It happens very infrequently now and always when I am near to due for my next dose.

posted January 1, 2017

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