Blepharospasm Treatment With Botox®:

When injected directly in the affected eye muscles, the neurotoxin relieves the muscle spasm. Although the effect is temporary, BOTOX® can be reinjected approximately every 3 months as long as the patient continues to respond and does not have a serious allergic reaction.3

Reduced blinking from BOTOX® injection of the orbicularis muscle can lead to corneal exposure, persistent epithelial defect, and corneal ulceration, especially in patients with VII nerve disorders. The effects of therapy may be increased with the use of aminoglycoside antibiotics or with other drugs that interfere with neuromuscular transmission.

The most frequently reported adverse events associated with BOTOX® include ptosis (droopy eyelids, 21%), superficial punctate keratitis and eye dryness (inflammation of the cornea characterized by small erosions of the tissue covering the cornea, 6%).4 Other events reported in prior clinical studies, in decreasing order of incidence, include irritation, tearing, lagophthalmos, photophobia, entropion, keratitis, diplopia, diffuse skin rash, and local swelling of the eyelid skin lasting for several days following eyelid injection.

As with any treatment that may result in resumption of activities by previously sedentary patients, sedentary patients should be cautioned to resume activity gradually following the administration of BOTOX®.3 In general, adverse events occur within the first week following injection of BOTOX® and while generally transient may have a duration of several months. Localized pain, tenderness, and/or bruising may be associated with the injection. Local weakness of the injected muscle(s) represents the expected pharmacological action of botulinum toxin. However, weakness of adjacent muscles may also occur due to spread of toxin.