Botulinum Toxin A Chemodenervation in Strabismus

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We investigated the therapeutic effect of botulinum toxin chemodenervation for the treatment of Korean strabismus patients. METHODS: From February 1996 to November 2001, 52 patients with various strabismus were treated with botulinum toxin chemodenervation and followed up for more than 6 months. There were 15 acute paralytic strabismus, 14 chronic paralytic strabismus (more than 6 months), 13 sensory strabismus, 5 consecutive strabismus, 3 residual strabismus and 2 comitant strabismus. We reviewed the final angle of deviation and complications. RESULTS: There were 29 men and 23 women with the mean age of 38.8+/-12.1 years. The mean follow up period was 8.08+/-2.27 months. The mean deviation before and after chemodenervation were 32.6+/-16.0 PD and 12.9+/-16.0 PD and improving rate of the strabismus angle was 60.4%. The final deviation of 36 patients (69.2%) were within 10 PD. Hypertropia occurred in 10 patients (19.2%), ptosis in 9 patients (17.3%), and subconjuntival hemorrhage in 2 patients (3.8%). CONCLUSION: Botulinum toxin chemodenervation is thought to have good therapeutic effects in acute paralytic strabismus as well as in chronic paralytic strabismus and other strabismus. The complications were relatively temporary and insignificant, so it is thought to be a safe method of strabismus treatment.