The use of botulinum toxin in the medical management of benign essential blepharospasm.

Twenty-eight patients with mild or moderate cases of benign essential blepharospasm were treated with botulinum toxin Type A. Average follow-up was six months. The injection technique used on these patients is illustrated. The treatment was effective in virtually all patients treated, although transient; the mean interval of relief of spasm was approximately two and one-half months. Potential side effects include ptosis and epiphora. Botulinum toxin as an initial treatment or as an adjunct in postsurgical residual blepharospasm shows promise in this preliminary study.