Botulinum toxin treatment in glaucomatous patients: a pilot study

PURPOSE : The purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment of iatro - genic entropion (IE), in patients affected by pri - mary open angle glaucoma (POAG), by botu - linum toxin injections (BTI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 20 patients of the "Glaucoma Center" of the Hospital "Umberto I" (Rome) were examined. These patients had POAG and used prostaglandin analogues (PA). Mean age was 75.5 years old (range 68-83); they had been suffering from PAOG since 10 years and were not affected by other relevant systemic diseases. One to three BTI were made into the lower orbicularis muscle using a 0.3 G needle (0.025 to 0.05 units for each injection site). RESULTS: The results were particularly signifi - cant in 18 out of 20 patients. Two patients showed slight improvements. A rating scale ranging from 0 to 6 points (0 corresponded to 'no effect' and 6 to the 'complete' resolution of the entropion) was used to evaluate the goals of the treatment. The average rating was 5.37 points. CONCLUSIONS: The entropion due to glauco - ma therapy with PA can be successfully treated with BTI in the orbicularis muscle, despite offer - ing temporary therapeutic effects .