Benign essential blepharospasm treated with botulinum toxin

ABSTRACT

Blepharospasm in 12 patients was graded according to its severity. Six patients also underwent neurological and psychological examinations. All were treated with periocular botulinum toxin injections, and all noted a reduction in spasm severity one week later. The effect lasted 60 to 90 days. The average improvement range was 2 gradations of spasm severity. Complications included a transient ptosis (two patients) and superficial punctate keratopathy (one patient). A psychological component—apparent secondary gain from the blepharospasm—was noted in three patients.