Some patients may experience excessive tongue protrusion, squinting, light sensitivity, muddled speech, or uncontrollable contraction of the platysma muscle.

Blepharospasm may lead to embarrassment in social situations, and oromandibular dystonia can affect speech, making it difficult to carry on the simplest conversations.

[citation needed] Meige's is commonly misdiagnosed and most doctors will not be familiar with this condition due to its rare incidence.

There are currently no technological diagnostic tools to detect Meige's, as it cannot be identified using blood chemistry analysis or radiological imaging, such as MRI or CT scans.

The term blepharospasm ['blef-a-ro-spaz-m] can be applied to any abnormal blinking or eyelid tic or twitch resulting from any cause, ranging from dry eyes to Tourette's syndrome to tardive dyskinesia.

"Benign" indicates the condition is not life-threatening, and "essential" is a medical term meaning "of unknown cause".

The word dystonia describes abnormal involuntary sustained muscle contractions and spasms.

The spasms may cause the mouth to pull open, shut tight, or move repetitively.