Benign essential blepharospasm is a chronic and progressive neurological disease. Patients have difficulty opening their eyes due to involuntary eyelid spasms. The spasms may extend to the lower face.
Application of botulinum toxin will decrease the spasms in most cases. However, a minority of patients will require surgical intervention.
An orbicularis oculi myectomy is the surgical treatment of choice for patients who do not respond well to Botox injections.
The operation is performed using a similar technique as for a blepharoplasty.
Skin removal is followed by careful and meticulous resection of the orbicularis muscle.
The myectomy is performed in different stages, until complete muscle excision has been achieved.
Surgical dissection must be done in a very precise manner, avoiding important nerves and vessels.
The orbicularis oculi muscle must be removed completely for the surgery to be successful.
Bipolar cautery of bleeding vessels is vital to prevent postoperative hematoma.
The last step of the operation consists of closing the skin. Non-absorbable sutures were used in this patient.
One month after the operation: the eyelid spasms are minimal, and the patient can open her eyes. Contact Us.
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