[The role of botulinum toxin in the treatment of essential blepharospasm].

Benign essential blepharospasm is a focal dystonia consisting in involuntary closure of the eyelids. Until early 80's, therapeutic modalities included only psychotropic drugs, biofeedback and surgery, which showed limited efficiency. Recently, it has been suggested to inject botulinum toxin in affected palpebral orbicularis muscles. Used in several thousands of patients, it has been found that this procedure provides significant temporary relief from spasms of the eyelids. Local side effects are minimal, and no systemic side effects have been demonstrated in patients with blepharospasm treated with botulinum toxin.