How to Use Botox to Treat Blepharospasm

Blepharospasm is a common eye condition that is characterized by spasms of the upper and/or lower eyelid that cause the eye to shut involuntarily. In some patients, severe and chronic blepharospasm can cause functional blindness, as the patient may be unable to keep his eyelids open. Botox has been used for decades to treat blepharospasm, and it is the treatment of choice for this condition.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Ophthalmologist

1. Visit an ophthalmologist for a proper diagnosis. While most cases of chronic blepharospasm are idiopathic, some can be attributed to overgrown eyelashes, exposure to an eye irritant or fatigue. In those cases, Botox therapy may not be necessary.
2. Discuss the procedure and possible side effects with your doctor. The most common side effect is ptosis, or eyelid drooping, which is caused by Botox being injected into the middle part of the eyelid. Ptosis usually cures itself within a couple of weeks.
3. Get the Botox injections in your eyelids. Most doctors use five injections located around the perimeter of the eye (excluding the mid upper lid) for this treatment. The Botox injections themselves are more painful than usual because of the delicacy of the eyelid, but usually only a local numbing agent is used to dull the pain.
4. Look for onset of improvement about 4 days after the treatment. It may take as long as 7 days for improvement to be apparent, however.
5. Repeat the procedure every 3 to 4 months to maintain results. Botox is only a temporary fix, but it is very effective in treating this disorder. By some estimates, as many as 90 percent of patients who try Botox therapy are able to keep their chronic blepharospasm in check when they use it consistently.

Tips & Warnings

• Because Botox is FDA approved to treat blepharospasm, it is generally covered by your insurance, unlike many other conditions also treated by Botox.
• Minor blepharospasm, characterized by an occasional twitch of the eyelid, is common and usually resolves itself within a few days without any treatment.
• If you have other facial or neck spasms, which are common among blepharospasm sufferers, your doctor can also use Botox therapy to relax the responsible muscles in those areas.
• Side effects of Botox therapy to treat blepharospasm are not common, but include blurry vision, local hemorrhage and tearing. These side effects are usually only temporary and don't require treatment.
• There is no known cure for chronic blepharospasm. Treatments are focused on improving or eliminating symptoms, but you have to keep up your treatments in order for them to be effective for the long term.