GAZE-EVOKED ORBICULARIS OCULI MYOKYMIA

The cases of six patients with pronounced, persistent, isolated gaze-e voked orbicularis oculi myokymia (GEOM) discovered fortuitously are de scribed. None had brain-stem lesions, and two had associated, unusual cranial synkinesis (trigeminofacial, hypoglossal-facial, and spinal ac cessory-facial). Additional features included asymmetric blinking and pseudoblepharoclonus in a third patient and buccopharyngeal synkinesis and post-deglutional tremors in a fourth. Ptosis and pupillary change s were absent. With the possible exception of one case, GEOM seems to be a congenital benign oculofacial synkinesis of brainstem origin.