[Upper lid frontalis suspension as a treatment for essential blepharospasm].
BACKGROUND
Essential blepharospasm is a progressive disease of unknown etiology causing a significant decline in the quality of life of patients suffering from the disease. Currently used treatment for this condition is repeated injections of Botulinum toxin. Some of the patients' therapeutic response to Botox injections is insufficient, and some develop ocular complications.


OBJECTIVE
This report presents our experience with sling frontalis suspension for essential blepharospasm in 4 patients with follow-up periods of six months to 2 years. A literature review is presented and discussed.


RESULTS
A treatment trial with Botox injections was attempted in all four patients. Three of the patients showed insufficient treatment response. Three of the patients developed side effects of recurrent episodes of upper lid ptosis following injections. In all four patients that underwent operations significant reduction of blepharospasm was observed. In two of the patients Botulinum toxin could be discontinued, in one patient treatment intensity could be reduced, and in three--treatment complications were prevented. All four patients reported a high degree of satisfaction from treatment results.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that sling frontalis suspension for essential blepharospasm is a safe and efficient treatment for essential blephrospasm with a high degree of patient satisfaction. Further large-scale studies are needed to substantiate our results.
Seider
Nir
N
The Alberto Moscona Department of Ophthalmology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
Beiran
Itzchak
I
Miller
Benjamin
B
Gilboa
Michael
M
Kaltreider
Sara
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000628:therapy*; D001764:Blepharospasm / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001905:Botulinum Toxins