A case of peculiar form of progressive muscular dystrophy — the oculopharyngeal one — is reported. The diagnosis was ascertained by electromiography and biopsy of orbicularis palpebrae muscle. Two forms of ophthalmoplegic dystrophy are analysed: 1) ocular myopathy and 2) oculopharyngeal miopathy. The latter is less frequent, occurring on patients in the fourth decade, in comparison with the pure ocular form affecting patients in the second decade. Besides this, the high familial incidence of the oculo-pharyngeal form is stressed. The reported case seems to be an intermediate form between them. The onset occurred at 11 years of age; there was no other case in the family, the disease involving swallowing, face, neck, trunk, shoulder, pelvic and members muscles.