ArticleEye (London, England)2019
A trial of a mechanical device for the treatment of blepharospasm.
Article in Eye (London, England), 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 3 citations in OpenAlex.
- Sensory Tricks in Dystonia: A Systematic Review and Nested Quantitative Synthesis.Brain and behavior · 2026Pooled it
- Visual evoked potential changes following Botox administration in patients with blepharospasm.International ophthalmology · 2023Article
- Profile of patients with essential blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm in the two largest ophthalmology reference centers in Brazil.Arquivos brasileiros de oftalmologia · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIdiopathic blepharospasm (IB) is a rare but well-characterised adult onset focal dystonia that may cause severe visual disability. The most effective treatment is with periodic injections of botulinum toxin (BTX) into the pre-tarsal and/or pre-septal orbicularis oculi muscles bilaterally. However, even with treatment, practical visual function often remains compromised. A subset of IB sufferers find that eye opening improves with a focal unilateral digital pressure usually on a specific point on the temple. This is known as a 'sensory trick'. We have developed a spectacle mounted device ('Pressop') to apply continuous individually localised focal pressure on the temple to mimic the effect of finger pressure. The aim of the study was to determine if the 'sensory trick' could be replicated by Pressop and if the interval between BTX treatments could thereby be extended. SUBJECTS/
methodsStudy participants had three clinic visits-an initial screening assessment, a visit 2 weeks before the next injection was due when the device was fitted, and one 2 weeks later to assess the response to Pressop. A CDQ 24 and device-specific feedback questionnaire were completed and comparison photographs were taken. Repeat BTX injections were administered at the third visit.
resultsOf 58 patients with typical IB recruited to the trial, 39 reported an effective focal finger pressure sensory trick. 56 completed the trial, more than 50% of whom reported some benefit using Pressop; 18% had substantial improvement, sustained for up to 5 years. Improvement could occur in those without an effective sensory trick, therefore there was no significant correlation between using a sensory trick and benefiting from 'Pressop'. There was a trend towards the responders having greater improvement in CDQ24 total score than non-responders but this was not statistically significant.
conclusionsWe recommend a trial of this simple safe device as a means of augmenting visual function in all IB patients.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.