BOTOX (XEOMINR): CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINIUM NEUROTOXIN TYPE A 150 KD INJECTION FOR BILATERAL ESSENTIAL BLEPHAROSPASM : PORT HARCOURT EXPERIENCE

BACKGROUND: Blepharospasm is a focal dystonia manifested by repetitive spasms of eyelid muscles which results in involuntary eye closure and often accompanied by sustained contractions of other facial and neck muscle. It is usually progressive and causes significant disability. It is commoner in females and prevalence increases with advancing age. Though distressing, it is successfully treated with botulinium toxin injection CASE PRESENTATION: We present two cases of blepharospasm. Both patients had prior history of eye conditions requiring surgery. One had cataract extraction while the other had corneal transplant surgery prior to onset of spasm. The two conditions were successfully treated with botulinium toxin injection although the second patient had his dose of injection repeated and doubled before he responded to treatment. CONCLUSION: Although blepharospasm is distressing and leads to functional blindness, it still has a high curative rate in its response to botulinium toxin injection even in African subjects.