Botulinum toxin for the temporary treatment of involutional lower lid entropion: a clinical and morphological study

Abstract

Purpose: A prospective study was designed to evaluate the use of botulinum toxin as a temporary treatment in patients awaiting surgical repair for involutional entropion and to compare its use with lid taping.

Methods: Botulinum toxin was administered to 30 patients with involutional entropion (35 eyelids). These patients had all previously been using lid taping and lubricant ointment as a temporary measure whilst awaiting lid surgery. Patients' symptoms and signs were assessed before and after toxin injection. The date of entropion recurrence was recorded. Eyelid tissue from 8 patients treated with toxin and 3 control patients who had not been given toxin was obtained after surgical entropion repair and examined histologically to ensure the botulinum toxin had no potential detrimental effects on the results of surgery.

Results: The toxin was simple and quick to administer. Anatomical success was achieved in 33 of the 35 eyelids with significant improvements in symptoms and signs. The mean duration of action of the toxin was 12.5 weeks. Lower lid laxity was inversely correlated with duration of toxin action. There were no consistent changes in orbicularis oculi morphology after toxin injection.

Conclusion: Botulinum toxin is a highly effective temporary treatment for involutional entropion with few complications and no adverse effects on the results of surgical entropion repair.