Botulinum toxin chemodenervation in infants and children: an alternative to incisional strabismus surgery.

Eighty-two children aged 13 years or younger were given injections of botulinum toxin for horizontal strabismus. Improvement was achieved in all but one patient. Children younger than 1 year or older than 6 years of age received only topical drop anesthesia and no sedation. Young children generally required low-dose ketamine sedation. The technique typically undercorrects, so reinjection was necessary in 85% of the patients. There were no systemic complications. Side effects, lasting up to a few weeks, included transient ptosis and hypertropia caused by involvement of other extraocular muscles.