One study reported the incidence of benign essential blepharospasm to be 4.6 cases per 100,000 per year, while another study reported the incidence of blepharospasm to be 4.6 per 1,000,000 per year. However, most prevalence studies use treatment-based data and therefore likely underestimate the actual prevalence of blepharospasm present in the community. Prevalence estimates of blepharospasm range from 16вЂ“133 cases per million. We provide here an up-to-date review of the use of BoNT for blepharospasm.

Before the introduction of chemodenervation through botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injections, treatment was challenging, as oral medications had minimal effectiveness and produced limiting side effects. In 1989, blepharospasm (in patients older than 12 years old) was the first indication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of BoNT-A. Adequate treatment of blepharospasm is necessary to allow maintenance of quality of life, avoid functional blindness, and to prevent complications such as corneal abrasions and dermatochalasis. Parkinsonism, dystonic cerebral palsy, and tardive phenomena are some of the commonly associated disorders. It may occur in isolation, or be associated with other dystonias. It usually affects both orbicularis oculi, and can progress into causing significant disability. Blepharospasm is a focal dystonia characterized by involuntary closure of the eyelids.

Free clinical trials for blepharospasms