Hemifacial spasm curable by surgery, says Pune neurosurgeon

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A Pune neurosurgeon is pushing back against the common belief that hemifacial spasm, a condition he calls the disease of the winking eye, can only be managed, not cured. Dr. Jaydev Panchawagh writes that the cause is a small artery pressing on the facial nerve at the base of the skull, which makes it fire unwanted signals. The fix, microvascular decompression, involves moving the artery and placing a Teflon cushion between it and the nerve.

The condition often leads to social isolation. The Hindu reports cases of patients being hit by strangers who mistook a spasm for a wink, and of a receptionist losing her job. Panchawagh warns that repeated Botox injections, which only paralyse the muscle, may worsen the nerve injury and make surgery less effective. He says the condition can be completely cured and urges more awareness.