Tel Aviv, Israel: The administration of cannabis-infused eye drops reduces spasms in patients diagnosed with the progressive neurological disorder benign essential blepharospasm (BEB), according to placebo-controlled data published in the journal Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. BEB is a rare type of dystonia that is characterized by the abnormal blinking or spasming of the eyelids.
A team of Israeli researchers compared cannabis-infused eye drops versus placebo in patients with BEB over a period of several weeks. Cannabis treatments were associated with significant reductions in the both the frequency and duration of patients’ spasms.
Authors concluded, “Medical cannabis can be an effective and safe treatment for BEB as a second line after BTX-A injections when used for three months. No significant ocular or systemic side effects was associated with the treatment.”
Full text of the study, “Medical cannabis oil for benign essential blepharospasm: A prospective, randomized controlled pilot study,” appears in Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. Additional information on cannabis and dystonia is available from NORML.
Source: NORML – make a donation