Abbas Bagheri1, Mohammad Eshaghi. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Labbafinejad Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University, Ophthalmic Research Center, Tehran, Iran. abbasbagheri@yahoo.com
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate botulinum toxin injection of the inferior oblique muscle for management of superior oblique (SO) paresis. METHODS: We undertook a prospective case series of injections of the ipsilateral inferior oblique (IO) muscle with 10-20 units of botulinum toxin type A in patients with a SO muscle palsy/paresis of less than 2 years' duration. RESULTS: We enrolled 16 patients (18 eyes) with a mean age of 33.7 years. The median time from onset of symptoms until injection was 6 months. The cause of paresis was trauma for 81% of the patients. The mean hypertropia decreased from 6.4(Delta) to 1.9(Delta) at 6 months after treatment. Other clinical measures improved: mean IO overaction from + 1.7 to + 0.6, mean SO underaction from -1.5 to -0.4, mean subjective torsion from 9.3 degrees to 0.4 degrees , and mean head tilt from 8.4 degrees to 1.1 degrees. CONCLUSIONS: Botulinum toxin injection to IO muscle reduces the symptoms of SO paresis while patients are waiting for recovery.
PURPOSE: To evaluate botulinum toxin injection of the inferior oblique muscle for management of superior oblique (SO) paresis. METHODS: We undertook a prospective case series of injections of the ipsilateral inferior oblique (IO) muscle with 10-20 units of botulinum toxin type A in patients with a SO muscle palsy/paresis of less than 2 years' duration. RESULTS: We enrolled 16 patients (18 eyes) with a mean age of 33.7 years. The median time from onset of symptoms until injection was 6 months. The cause of paresis was trauma for 81% of the patients. The mean hypertropia decreased from 6.4(Delta) to 1.9(Delta) at 6 months after treatment. Other clinical measures improved: mean IO overaction from + 1.7 to + 0.6, mean SO underaction from -1.5 to -0.4, mean subjective torsion from 9.3 degrees to 0.4 degrees , and mean head tilt from 8.4 degrees to 1.1 degrees. CONCLUSIONS: Botulinum toxin injection to IO muscle reduces the symptoms of SO paresis while patients are waiting for recovery.