BOTULINUM TOXIN FOR EPIPHORA

 

Lacrimal gland injections can be a good option for patients who experience excessive tearing. In this study it was found that Schirmer test scores decreased at three months as well as having decreased at six months. Adverse event overall incidence was 22%, with the most common being ptosis and diplopia. 

Other than the objective measurement of Schirmer scores, subjective patient-reported outcomes also displayed significant improvement, reflective of high patient-reported satisfaction.

Therapeutically, the effect of Botox is achieved via inhibition of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction within the lacrimal gland.

In general they believe botulinum toxin injection “stands as a promising option for select patients, offering a balance of efficacy, reversibility and low invasiveness in managing chronic epiphora.”