PressOp™ is a new spectacle mounted device designed by clinicians to help individuals with Blepharospasm. PressOp™ has proved its safety and efficacy within an ethically approved clinical trial and is now available for purchase.
Blepharospasm is an involuntary, increased blink rate and spasmodic eye closure, which is so troublesome and when very severe, it is very disabling resulting in some sufferers becoming functionally blind. This sometimes requires visual impairment certification.
The cause of Blepharospasm is understood to be due to hyper-excitability of the neuronal circuits between the motor cortex, the basal ganglia and the brain centres controlling the muscles of the eyelids. PressOp™ calms the nerve pathway circuits thereby reducing the symptoms.
The concept of PressOp™ arose after studying individuals with Blepharospasm who regularly use “sensory tricks” by applying pressure to the temple region of their forehead as they found this helped to enable eye opening. The device is particularly helpful with controlling an episode of severe spasm when the carrying out of specific tasks is necessary. We particularly recommend the use of PressOp™ for additional relief of eyelid spasms as part of the Botulinum treatment cycle. Botulinum Toxin injections will take a week or two to take full effect, while two or three months later the effect of the Botulinum eases off. Blepharospasm sufferers may find continuity in their quality of life by using PressOp™ while effectiveness of treatment is not at its peak. We also recommend the use of PressOp™ to non – responders of Botulinum Toxin.
PressOp™ simply slides onto the arm of the spectacles and once in the correct position, is tightened to stay in place, fitting most spectacle designs easily. A rotational arm provides the pressure point to the temple. If you do not need to wear spectacles you may just wear a frame or have clear glass lenses without prescription inserted into a frame. We hope you enjoy our video demonstrating and explaining how you can use and benefit with the PressOp™ device. An order can be placed through this web site or you may ask The Dystonia Society to pass your details to the project coordinator.
Antonino Brancato is our developer and manufacturer of PressOp. Tony moved from Sicily to the UK aged 9 years. Educated in the UK, three years into a medical degree Tony decided to transfer to engineering, culminating in a PhD which led to a successful career in motorsport, designing several very successful engines, 2 of which won 4 motorcycle world championships. Tony says… “We always have the radio on at work, and one day, I heard an appeal by Alexina of the Eye Research Group Oxford, at the Oxford Eye Hospital for help with production of a medical device to assist sufferers of Blepharospasm. After contacting Alexina, I was able to use my business facilities to manufacture a small batch of the first version of the PressOp device, now known as ‘PressOp 1’ Feeling that I might improve the design, I now manufacture this design, known as ‘PressOp 2’ which I hope helps Blepharospasm sufferers…”
The PressOp™ Team:
John Elston MB, BS, BSc, MD, FRCS, FRCOphth
Manoj Parulekar MS, FRCS, (Ophth)Ed, FRCOphth, DNB
Alexina Fantato RGN,OND, ENB 997/998,MBACP