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1.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38687332

A 26-year-old male with a history of orbital lymphangioma and compressive optic neuropathy presented with recurrent proptosis in the OS. After examination and imaging, a left orbital lymphatic malformation and a new subcutaneous temporal-parietal vasculo-lymphatic malformation were diagnosed. The patient underwent a bleomycin injection for the orbital malformation and an excisional biopsy for the temporal lesion, leading to symptom resolution. Recurrence of lymphatic malformations and hemorrhage typically occurs at the same site, here we report a patient with the appearance of a new site lesion with orbital recurrence.

2.
Orbit ; 43(1): 64-68, 2024 Feb.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37155277

PURPOSE: To report a case series of seven patients with late presentation of orbital/subperiosteal abscess following oral treatment of orbital cellulitis. METHODS: A retrospective case series of all patients presented with orbital abscess following oral treatment of orbital cellulitis from two tertiary-care eye centres in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was conducted. Demographic profiles, risk factors, initial clinical presentation, management regimens, and final outcome were analysed. RESULTS: Patients presented mainly with proptosis and limitation of extraocular motility without external ophthalmic inflammatory signs. Most patients needed surgical evacuation despite the appropriate initiation of intravenous antibiotics following presentation to our hospitals. CONCLUSION: Treating orbital cellulitis with oral antibiotics may lead to delayed presentation of orbital abscess without external ophthalmic inflammatory signs.


Exophthalmos , Orbital Cellulitis , Humans , Orbital Cellulitis/diagnosis , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Abscess/diagnostic imaging , Abscess/drug therapy , Retrospective Studies , Cellulitis/drug therapy , Cellulitis/etiology
4.
Saudi J Ophthalmol ; 37(2): 94-99, 2023.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37492214

PURPOSE: Epicanthus is a term that refers to the semilunar eyelid skin fold over the medial aspect covering the medial canthal angle. Epicanthus tarsalis is the most common type and is most evident in the Asian population with a prevalence of 40% as opposed to 2%-5% in the non-Asian population. Epicanthoplasty has not been studied in patients of a population of heavier skin pigmentation. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients that underwent Park's modified Z-epicanthoplasty from January 2018 to August 2020. They were categorized based on their Fitzpatrick skin type. Their preoperative and postoperative pictures were analyzed for epicanthal fold correction with focus on scar visibility, pigmentation, and elevation. The patients were contacted over the phone for a questionnaire about their subjective scar assessment and satisfaction rate. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients with mild epicanthus tarsalis were included in this study. Twenty-two patients had Fitzpatrick skin type 3, seven patients had type 4, and six had type 5. Normal postoperative scar pigmentation was reported 37.1% (n = 13) of patients. Scar hypopigmentation was reported in 28.6% (n = 10) and scar hyperpigmentation was reported in 34.3% (n = 12). The final cosmetic satisfaction rate score was a median of 9/10 on the 1-10 scale with 40% recording 10/10 satisfaction. On the scar visibility scale, the median was 3/10. About 82.9% (n = 29) had no scar elevation or hypertrophy. Only one patient had scar hypertrophy and elevation and three patients had a vertical depression scar. No clinical or statistical significance was found when correlating scar visibility and pigmentation with Fitzpatrick skin type. CONCLUSION: Epicanthoplasty is a commonly performed surgery, especially in China and South Korea. In our population, Z-epicanthoplasty has proven to be effective in epicanthus tarsalis with high cosmetic satisfaction rate, low scar visibility, and acceptable scar pigmentation.

5.
Orbit ; 41(2): 211-215, 2022 Apr.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33430670

PURPOSE: To report long-term surgical outcomes of a series of MGJWS patients with moderate ptosis who underwent levator resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records of 10 MGJWS patients with moderate ptosis who underwent levator resection was performed in two major eye centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from January 1987 to December 2019. Clinical features, pre-operative and post-operative data of the 10 patients were recorded. OUTCOME MEASURES: Long-term upper eyelid position. RESULTS: The mean patient age at presentation was 5.4 years. Seven patients were female and three were male. All patients had moderate ptosis with marginal reflex distance ranged from 1 to 2 mm. The mean age at surgery was 9.5 years. After initial good ptosis correction for all patients, seven of them had a recurrence of ptosis several months after levator resection. CONCLUSIONS: Levator resection in MGJWS patients with moderate ptosis and good levator function is associated with a high rate of ptosis recurrence and less predictable surgical results.


Blepharoptosis , Nervous System Diseases , Blepharoptosis/surgery , Female , Heart Defects, Congenital , Humans , Jaw Abnormalities , Male , Nervous System Diseases/surgery , Oculomotor Muscles/surgery , Reflex, Abnormal , Retrospective Studies , Treatment Outcome
6.
Can J Ophthalmol ; 57(6): 388-393, 2022 12.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34324876

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to describe the clinical and histopathologic features of different types of dacryops and their clinical diagnostic challenges. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of all surgically excised cases of dacryops in 2 tertiary eye hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: The study included 58 dacryops specimens from 55 patients with an average age of 41.2 years (range, 4-78 years). The most common location was the upper lid (60.3%), whereas the least expected location was the caruncle (6.9%). The most common site of dacryops occurrence was in the accessory lacrimal gland (55.2%), the main lacrimal gland (32.8%), and then ectopic dacryops (12%). All patients presented with lid swelling alone except for 3 patients who experienced secondary mechanical ptosis. On physical examination, conjunctival scarring existed in 4 patients (6.9%). Preoperative diagnosis of dacryops was accurate in 44.8% of the cases. Dacryops of the main lacrimal gland was accurately diagnosed clinically in all cases compared with other locations, which was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The causes of inaccurate clinical diagnoses were hidrocystoma (26.9%), inclusion cyst (11.5%), and dermoid cyst (7.7%), whereas the remaining cases were diagnosed as cysts without a specific subtype (53.9%). Recurrence of the lesion was observed in 2 cases (3.5%). No clinical or histopathologic factors were associated with a risk of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Dacryops can represent a diagnostic challenge to ophthalmologists. Familiarity with clinical presentations and findings is required to diagnose dacryops outside the main lacrimal gland.


Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases , Lacrimal Apparatus , Adult , Humans , Conjunctival Diseases/etiology , Cysts/diagnosis , Cysts/etiology , Cysts/surgery , Lacrimal Apparatus/surgery , Lacrimal Apparatus/pathology , Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases/diagnosis , Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases/surgery , Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases/pathology , Retrospective Studies , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Young Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Cicatrix/etiology
7.
Saudi J Ophthalmol ; 35(3): 251-256, 2021.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35601847

PURPOSE: The study aims to assess the impact of social media on patients who underwent periocular cosmetic surgeries during 2019 and to determine the appropriate platforms to enrich the knowledge and awareness of the general Saudi population regarding periocular cosmetic surgeries. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Ibn Rushd Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Three hundred and ninety-five participants with periocular cosmetic surgeries in 2019 were recruited for the study. The questionnaire included 43 questions distributed under four domains: demographics, personal and family history of periocular eye surgeries, influence of social media on cosmetic eye procedures, and psychological effects of social media. RESULTS: Periocular cosmetic surgeries were more common among women, with eyelid surgery being the most popular type. About 48.9% of the participants knew their oculoplastic surgeons from social media platforms, and over 57% who used accounts on social media were interested in cosmetology managed by nonphysicians. The majority of the participants (64.1%) chose Instagram as a social media platform to find an oculoplastic surgeon. Consequently, 91.6% stated that seeing before and after photos on social media platforms affected their decision in selecting their oculoplastic surgeon. Besides, 82.8% revealed that visiting surgeons' clinic came as a step next to their search for their accounts on social media. CONCLUSION: The majority of the participants were, somewhat or another, affected by social media and this is due to people's belief regarding social media as a beneficial source of medical information that can provide reviews and expert opinion. The accuracy of the information presented in social media accounts managed by both physicians and nonphysicians is essential in making the appropriate decision for undergoing this kind of surgeries or not.

8.
Saudi J Ophthalmol ; 35(3): 261-262, 2021.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35601865

Orbital cellulitis in children rarely occurs secondary to smoking water pipe. A 3-year-old girl who presented with fever, eyelid swelling, pain, and proptosis of the left eye for 4 days after water pipe consumption. The patient was given the usual course of antibiotics for a few days along with subperiosteal abscess drainage however no improvement was noticed for a week. Cultures were positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and pseudomonas aeruginosa. Intravenous dexamethasone was co-administered in three courses for 3 weeks, during which residual symptoms was slowly resolving. In conclusion, attempt of dexamethasone in children can shorten hospital stay and augment full recovery.

9.
Saudi J Ophthalmol ; 35(3): 273-275, 2021.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35601867

Ocular choristomas are rare lesions that have been reported at the conjunctiva, sclera, orbit, or intraocularly with significant potential for visual disturbance. The complex type of choristomas shows a mixture of different cartilaginous, glandular, and muscular tissue in addition to fat. We present a patient with an associated eyelid coloboma and complex choristoma. A 12-day-old baby boy was referred to our hospital with an upper medial eyelid coloboma affecting almost two-thirds of the eyelid length with an additional sub-brow mass since birth. The baby also had secondary findings to the eyelid coloboma defect: temporal conjunctival symblepharon, vascularized cornea, and inferior pannus. The patient underwent an upper eyelid reconstruction with excisional biopsy of the sub-brow mass, which was diagnosed as a complex choristoma. This is the first case of an eyelid coloboma-associated with complex choristoma without any other systemic associations.

10.
Orbit ; 40(1): 18-23, 2021 Feb.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31994430

Purpose: To study acute dacryocystitis in a pediatric age group, focusing on patients' demographic profiles, clinical presentation, and management outcome. Methods: A retrospective case series of all acute dacryocystitis in pediatric patients (0-17 years) from two tertiary-care eye centres in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was conducted. Demographic profile, risk factors, initial clinical presentation, management regimens, and final outcome were analysed. Results: A total of 51 patients were included in the study. The mean age of presentation was 3.9 ± 4 years (1 month-13 years). Thirty-eight patients (74.5%) reported symptoms of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) prior to presentation, four patients (7.8%) had congenital dacryocystocele, two (3.9%) had a history of traumatic NLDO, and ten (19.6%) had an attack of acute dacryocystitis in the absence of NLDO or any other known risk factors. Four patients (7.8%) progressed to orbital cellulitis while another three (5.8%) had lacrimal sac fistula secondary to acute dacryocystitis. Systemic antibiotics were the initial management in all 51 patients. Twenty-five (49%) underwent probing after the resolution of the acute attack while 12 (23.5%) patients underwent dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). Conclusions: Early recognition and urgent management for acute dacryocystitis are required to prevent further potential complications and achieve excellent outcomes. Congenital NLDO is the main risk factor for the development of acute dacryocystitis in the pediatric age group. In a small set of patients, acute dacryocystitis can develop despite the presence of a patent lacrimal drainage system on clinical evaluation with lack of tearing and discharge before and after the attack of acute dacryocystitis.


Dacryocystitis , Dacryocystorhinostomy , Lacrimal Duct Obstruction , Nasolacrimal Duct , Child , Child, Preschool , Dacryocystitis/epidemiology , Dacryocystitis/surgery , Humans , Lacrimal Duct Obstruction/diagnosis , Lacrimal Duct Obstruction/therapy , Nasolacrimal Duct/diagnostic imaging , Nasolacrimal Duct/surgery , Retrospective Studies
11.
BMC Ophthalmol ; 20(1): 413, 2020 Oct 16.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33066757

BACKGROUND: Whipple's disease (WD) is a rare, chronic, infection caused by gram-positive filamentous aerobic actinobacterium Tropheryma whipplei occurs classically in the gastrointestinal tract and shows histopathologically foamy macrophages with typical numerous PAS-positive, non-acid fast particles. Ocular WD in the form of uveitis may occur in the absence of systemic disease but has not been reported to present with scleral manifestation. We describe for the first time to the best of our knowledge 2 cases of scleral nodules with typical histopathological morphology of WD and without systemic involvement. CASE PRESENTATION: The first was a 53-year old diabetic male farmer who presented with 2 nontender right eye scleral nodules for 3 months, had a negative systemic workup, and surgical excision showed Periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-positive eosinophilic structures inside macrophages. Grocott's methenamine silver (GMS) stain and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) stain of the tissue itself were negative. The second case was a 60-year old male who presented with an asymptomatic superior scleral nodule for 4 months, which showed similar appearance and negative GMS and AFB stains. CONCLUSION: WD should be included in the differential diagnosis of scleral nodules even in the absence of systemic symptoms. Surgical excision without systemic treatment resulted in successful outcome without recurrence.


Uveitis , Whipple Disease , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Tropheryma , Uveitis/diagnosis , Whipple Disease/diagnosis , Whipple Disease/drug therapy
12.
Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg ; 36(6): 566-568, 2020.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32810032

PURPOSE: To describe a novel observation of ipsilateral eyelid myokymia in the context of Marcus Gunn jaw-winking synkinesis (MGJWS). METHODS: A retrospective case series of 5 patients observed to have myokymia in the context of MGJWS in 2 tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was conducted. Demographic profile including age and gender, and clinical features were analyzed. RESULTS: Five patients (3 males and 2 females) with MGJWS were noted to demonstrate the phenomenon of ipsilateral eyelid myokymia. All but 1 had right-sided MGJWS. The myokymia was seen as upper eyelid twitching in a vertical fashion along the levator palpebrae superioris muscle field of action. All subjects also had ipsilateral Monocular elevation deficiency. CONCLUSION: Ipsilateral upper eyelid myokymia is a potential feature of MGJWS. Monocular elevation seems to be a constant feature among MGJWS patients with levator muscle myokymia.Marcus Gunn jaw-winking synkinesis (MGJWS) is not well understood. Ipsilateral eyelid myokymia is a potential feature of MGJWS. This finding suggests that peripheral dysinnervation is likely to be a part of MGJWS.Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.


Marcus Gunn jaw-winking synkinesis (MGJWS) is not well understood. Ipsilateral eyelid myokymia is a potential feature of MGJWS. This finding suggests that peripheral dysinnervation is likely to be a part of MGJWS. Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.


Blepharoptosis , Myokymia , Synkinesis , Eyelids , Female , Heart Defects, Congenital , Humans , Jaw Abnormalities , Male , Nervous System Diseases , Oculomotor Muscles , Reflex, Abnormal , Retrospective Studies , Synkinesis/diagnosis
13.
Int Ophthalmol ; 40(8): 2041-2045, 2020 Aug.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32367161

PURPOSE: To present the differentiating clinical findings between intratarsal keratinous cyst (IKC) and chalazion. METHOD: A retrospective review of medical records of all patients who presented between 2010 and 2018 at King Abdulaziz University Hospital with proven histopathological diagnosis of IKC was done. Complete ophthalmologic evaluation at presentation, surgical procedures performed, complications, histopathological findings, response to treatment and follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: Twelve patients were found to have IKC. All patients presented with an eyelid mass with no signs of local inflammation. All lesions were fixed to the tarsus with freely mobile overlying skin, which was found to be slightly pale compared to the surrounding skin in six patients. On palpation, IKC had well-defined boarders. Isolation with clear surgical plane for cyst excision was achieved in nine patients as they were superficially involving the tarsus. When IKC involved the deep part of the tarsus, bluish/ whitish nodules were seen upon eyelid eversion. Six patients were misdiagnosed and surgically treated as a chalazion elsewhere prior to presentation to us with recurrence. CONCLUSION: Differentiating IKC from chalazion can be challenging. Careful clinical evaluation helps reaching the right diagnosis and providing the correct treatment, which involves complete excision of IKC to prevent recurrence.


Chalazion , Eyelid Diseases , Chalazion/diagnosis , Chalazion/surgery , Eyelid Diseases/diagnosis , Eyelid Diseases/surgery , Humans , Keratins , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local , Retrospective Studies
14.
Int J Surg Case Rep ; 70: 182-184, 2020.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32417735

INTRODUCTION: Silicone oil has been used for many years in retinal surgeries for retinal detachment. One of its reported complications is oil migration to the periorbital area, resulting in granulomatous reaction. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 56-year-old lady, with history of retinal detachment that was repaired by vitrectomy, silicone oil removal and epi-retinal membrane peeling, presented to us with unilateral ptosis and a skin lesion that resembled xanthelasma. DISCUSSION: Histopathology of this lesion showed silicone oil infiltrating the surrounding connective tissue and fat with absence of foamy histiocytes. CONCLUSION: We are reporting a case of silicone oil migration with pseudo-xanthelasma lesion. This has been reported only twice to the best of our knowledge in the English-written literature.

15.
Saudi J Ophthalmol ; 33(3): 209-213, 2019.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31686960

PURPOSE: To study different tarsal cysts that share similar presentations and are commonly misdiagnosed clinically as a chalazion. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical charts of all consecutive patients who presented eyelid tarsal-related pathology that needed surgical excision between 2010 and 2016 to a tertiary hospital was done. The data collected included preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative observations. Complete ophthalmologic examination at presentation, surgical procedures needed, complications, histopathological findings, response to treatment and follow-ups were recorded. RESULTS: Out of 850 patients who had an eyelid tarsal-related pathology, ten patients were found to have an eyelid cystic lesion related to the tarsus. All patients presented with an eyelid mass with no sign of local inflammation. All lesions were fixed to the tarsus with freely mobile overlying skin. Five patients had a recurrent lesion that was misdiagnosed and surgically treated as a chalazion. All patients underwent a surgical removal of these cysts, and a histopathological examination was performed. An intratarsal keratinous cyst was found in six patients and epithelial inclusion cyst was in one patient. Two patients found to have cystic structure lined by double cuboidal epithelium with numerous goblet cells consistent with benign lacrimal duct cyst (Dacryops). CONCLUSION: Cysts related to the tarsal plate could have similar presentations. Careful clinical evaluation and histopathological examination play an important role in giving the right diagnosis and in providing the appropriate management.

16.
Saudi J Ophthalmol ; 33(3): 251-254, 2019.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31686966

PURPOSE: To report the long-term follow-up results after surgical excision of migrated Bio-Alcamid fillers to the Periorbita area. METHODS: A retrospective case series of all patients who underwent surgical removal of migrated Bio-Alcamid fillers to the Periorbita area with minimal follow-up of 1 year from January 2009 to January 2018 was done. RESULTS: 16 female patients (24-52 y) presented with an upper or lower eyelid swelling 3-7 years following a filler injection in the nasal bridge, temporal or malar area. All patients had surgical excision of a granulomatous mass ranging in size from 1-3.5 cm. The histopathology report revealed a giant cell reaction in all patients. Follow-up periods ranged from 1 to 8 years. One patient developed lid retraction and another had recurrence 3 years later; the remaining had an unremarkable course. CONCLUSIONS: Filler migration is one of the potential complications associated with Bio-Alcamid soft tissue injection. It is important for all physicians to assess nodules/masses/swelling in the facial area to be aware that soft tissue fillers may migrate to a location away from their intended site of injection years after the injection. Patients undergoing surgical excision tend to have favorable overall long-term outcomes in terms of aesthetics and incidence of recurrence.

17.
Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg ; 35(5): 451-455, 2019.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30844917

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of bicanalicular silicone intubation for the management of punctal stenosis and obstruction in patients with allergic conjunctivitis. METHODS: A retrospective interventional case series of patients with acquired epiphora due to stenotic or obstructed puncta as a result of allergic conjunctivitis was performed. Punctal dilation and bicanalicular silicone intubation were performed in all patients. Munk Scale for grading of epiphora along with grading of fluorescein dye disappearance test was used to evaluate the functional improvement. Grading of punctal stenosis using Kashkouli's grading system was applied to evaluate the anatomical improvement. Patients having canalicular or nasolacrimal duct obstruction, punctal stenosis, and obstruction due to other causes were excluded. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients met the inclusion criteria with male-female ratio of 1:1.55 and an average age of 46 years at presentation. High patient tolerances without complications with the use of tubes were reported. Significant improvement 6 months after tube removal in comparison to preoperative period was found with anatomical and functional success rate of 91.83% and 87.75%, respectively. Two patients had a recurrence of the punctal stenosis many months after stent removal because of the early tube prolapse and exacerbation of the allergic conjunctivitis. CONCLUSIONS: Bicanalicular silicone intubation seems to be a well-tolerated and effective tool in the management of acquired punctal stenosis or obstruction secondary to allergic conjunctivitis. Bicanalicular silicone intubation appears to be a good option as patients with allergic conjunctivitis typically present with bilateral involvement of both puncti.


Conjunctivitis, Allergic/complications , Dacryocystorhinostomy/methods , Intubation/instrumentation , Lacrimal Duct Obstruction/therapy , Nasolacrimal Duct/surgery , Stents , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies
18.
Saudi J Ophthalmol ; 33(4): 319-325, 2019.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31920440

PURPOSE: To evaluate how well the training residency program prepared recent graduates to practice comprehensive ophthalmology with special focus on surgical competency. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that included Ophthalmologists who graduated from Riyadh ophthalmology residency program between the years 2002-2012. A total of 126 graduates were invited through e-mails and electronic social media platforms to anonymously complete an electronic survey. The survey included questions that aim to assess the surgical competency of graduated ophthalmologists in doing various surgical procedures that were among the requirements of residency training. RESULTS: Ninety participants in the mean age of 38.7 years completed the survey. The majority of respondents (93%) joined fellowship programs and around half of them sub-specialized in anterior segment. More than half (55.6%) of the respondents reported that the acquired surgical skills during residency training were adequate. By the end of the residency period, the respondents' competency in doing extra capsular cataract extraction was better than phacoemulsification while 52% of them reported incompetence in both glaucoma and strabismus surgeries whereas the majority were incompetent in oculoplastics' procedures (e.g. entropion repair). However, the majority felt competent in doing primary repair, minor and laser procedures. Lack of exposure was the major cause of such incompetency. CONCLUSION: This self-reported survey showed that the lack of adequate surgical exposure during residency training was the main reason of incompetency. This resulted in reduction of ophthalmologists' future practice of surgical procedures outside the scope of their sub-specialty. This emphasizes that physicians mainly practice what they surgically acquire during their fellowship training.

19.
Saudi J Ophthalmol ; 32(3): 238-240, 2018.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30224890

Pneumosinus Dilatans (PD) is a rare condition characterized by abnormal enlargement of one or more paranasal sinuses that can lead to different functional and cosmetic presentations. Here we report right non-axial proptosis in a 47-year-old female secondary to pneumosinus dilatans of the maxillary sinus with superior bowing of the orbital floor.

20.
Curr Opin Ophthalmol ; 29(5): 428-433, 2018 Sep.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29994851

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In 1980, botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) was introduced for the treatment of strabismus and benign essential blepharospasm. Since then, a number of additional indications have been introduced, which continue to expand, providing less invasive solutions in managing different ophthalmic conditions. RECENT FINDINGS: Successful trials of BTX-A injection into the lacrimal gland have been reported for the treatment of epiphora caused by primary lacrimal gland hyperlacrimation, functional tearing, gustatory tearing, and lacrimal outflow obstruction. This is achieved through blockage of the cholinergic receptors by BTX-A at the glandular level. Interestingly, BTX-A has also been found to be useful in treating patients with dry eyes by compromising the tear drainage from the eye through injection of BTX-A in the medial part of the lower eyelid. BTX-A may help provide effective relief for patients who have two different ophthalmic comorbidities such as benign essential blepharospasm and dry eye. SUMMARY: Better understanding of the mechanism of BTX-A action in the treatment of the growing applications in ophthalmology helps provide relatively noninvasive solutions for patients. Full awareness of possible side effects of BTX-A and the optimal way to manage them is vital for the success of this treatment option.


Blepharospasm/drug therapy , Botulinum Toxins, Type A/administration & dosage , Lacrimal Apparatus/metabolism , Tears/metabolism , Blepharospasm/metabolism , Humans , Injections, Intramuscular , Lacrimal Apparatus/drug effects , Neuromuscular Agents/administration & dosage , Tears/drug effects
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