[Blepharospasm: treatment with botulinum toxin].

Blepharospasm is form of focal dystonia characterized by involuntary and repetitive contractions involving the orbicular oculi muscle. Fourteen patients with blepharospasm were submitted to botulinum toxin type A injections. Of these 14 cases, 6 were male and 8 female. The mean age was 58 years (range: 33 to 76 years) with illness duration ranging from 1 to 25 years (average: 7.3 years). All patients have been treated with conventional therapies with poor results, but presented a good response to botulinum toxin type A. The average latent period was 3 days (range: 0 to 10); maximum effect of treatment was observed after 16 days. The mean duration of maximum response was 90 days. The main side effects of botulinum toxin injections were ptosis and lagophtalmos.