Prevalence of primary blepharospasm in a community of Puglia region, Southern Italy.

The authors ascertained the prevalence of primary blepharospasm (BSP) in a community located in Puglia, a region in Southern Italy, by focusing on neurologists and ophthalmologists. The crude prevalence rates were 133 per million (95% CI, 61--153) for both focal and segmental BSP, 74 per million (95% CI, 24--173) for focal BSP, and 59 per million (95% CI, 16--151) for segmental BSP. Prevalence rate increased with age. Apraxia of eyelid opening and BSP coexisted in one third of cases.