Botox effective for blepharospasm but not dry eye

GRAZ, Austria — Botulinum toxin A does not relieve dry eye symptoms in patients with both blepharospasm and dry eye, a study here indicates.

Dr. Jutta Horwath-Winter and colleagues investigated the effect of botulinum toxin A (Botox, Allergan) injections on tear function and the morphology of the ocular surface in patients suffering from blepharospasm in combination with dry eye syndrome.

Sixteen patients with blepharospasm were injected with botulinum toxin A. Prior to treatment, all patients complained of dry eye symptoms and showed reduced tear breakup times.

All patients experienced relief of blepharospasm after botulinum toxin injection. Only three patients noted improvement in dry eye symptoms. Eight patients remained unchanged after injection and five complained of worsened symptoms.

Schirmer test measurements were reduced at up to 3 months. Tear breakup time increased at 1 week and 1 month following the injections, and rose bengal staining slightly increased at 1 week. Impression cytology showed no definite change in conjunctival cell morphology at 1 month and 3 months follow-up.

The report is published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.