Effects of the periocular botulinum toxin on the ocular surface and anterior chamber: a prospective study in patients with hemifacial spasm and blepharospasm

• Published in: International ophthalmology 2023-08, Vol.43 (8), p.2731-2736
• Main Authors: Romero-Caballero, María Dolores, Miralles de Imperial-Ollero, Juan Antonio, Sarabia-Marín, Elena, Villegas-Pérez, María Paz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anterior Chamber; Blepharospasm - drug therapy; Botulinum toxin; Botulinum Toxins - adverse effects; Botulinum Toxins, Type A - adverse effects; Chambers; Cornea; Dystonia; Dystonia - drug therapy; Glaucoma; Hemifacial Spasm - drug therapy; Humans; Injection; Injections, Intraocular; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Ophthalmology; Original Paper; Parameters; Prospective Studies; Statistical analysis; Topography; Toxins
• ISSN: 1573-2630; 0165-5701; 1573-2630
• DOI: 10.1007/s10792-023-02672-8

Purpose To analyze using Pentacam ® , the corneal and anterior chamber changes following periocular botulinum toxin injection in patients with facial dystonia. Methods Prospective study that included patients with facial dystonia that were going to receive a periocular botulinum toxin injection for the first time or six months or more after the previous injection. A Pentacam ® examination was carried out in all patients before and 4 weeks after the injection. Results Thirty-one eyes were included. Twenty-two had a diagnosis of blepharospasm and nine of hemifacial spasm. Analysis of corneal and anterior chamber parameters revealed a significant decrease in iridocorneal angle after botulinum toxin injection (from 35 ± 10º to 33.8 ± 9.7º, p  = 0.022). No other corneal or anterior chamber parameters changed significantly after the injection. Conclusions Periocular botulinum toxin injection causes narrowing of the iridocorneal angle.