Swallow-Induced Eyelid Myokymia: A Novel Synkinesis Syndrome

Abstract

Herein, we describe a novel manifestation of facial nerve synkinesis, swallow-induced eyelid myokymia, and hypothesise that this phenomenon is due to synkinetic facial nerve innervations of the stylohyoid-posterior digastric complex of suprahyoid muscles and orbicularis oculi muscle. In our patient's case, onabotulinum toxin A treatment provided good therapeutic response. Swallowinduced eyelid myokymia is a unique and previously unreported variety of facial nerve synkinesis.

Eyelid myokymia caused by a trigeminal schwannoma as determined by the trigeminal‐evoked blink reflex

“…Eyelid myokymia, although thought to originate from peripheral nerves such as the facial nerve, may be triggered by extrinsic factors 3–5 or the synkinetic facial nerve innervation induced by swallowing 13 . Furthermore, central nervous system diseases can also be a causative factor.…”

“…Eyelid myokymia, although thought to originate from peripheral nerves such as the facial nerve, may be triggered by extrinsic factors [3][4][5] or the synkinetic facial nerve innervation induced by swallowing. 13 Furthermore, central nervous system diseases can also be a causative factor. Six cases of eyelid myokymia caused by intracranial lesions have been reported: four with multiple sclerosis, one with a medial temporal lobe tumor, and one with a pontine glioma.…”

Synkinesis developed after peripheral facial paralysis: An electrophysiological study

“…Çok nadir görülen bu sinkineziye benzer olabilecek, yutma ile göz kapağında miyokimik boşalımları olan sadece bir olgu literatürde yayınlanmıştır. [28] Hastalarımız içinde hiperlakrimasyon dokuz hastada (%6.9) görüldü. Hastalarımız bu durumu çoğunlukla şikayet olarak belirtmemiş, ancak özellikle sorgulandığı zaman bildirmişlerdir.…”