Botox Can Treat Many of Your Eye Conditions

Botox® is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments for facial lines and wrinkles. But, did you know that it has other benefits? This injectable medication can treat numerous conditions, from facial tics and twitches to migraines and more.

Botox contains a purified toxin, onabotulinumtoxina, which works as a muscle relaxant. When it’s used for cosmetic purposes, it can smooth moderate to severe crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead lines. When it’s used to treat eye and facial conditions, it can relax muscles and reduce nerve impulses. 

If you’re bothered by a condition affecting your eye or facial muscles, turn to Michael Ragen, MD, FACS, Kyle Huynh, MD, and our team at Ventura Eye Institute. Our doctors are experts in using Botox to treat eye conditions.

Botox for twitches and tics

Twitches and tics are rapid, involuntary muscle contractions. They can happen occasionally due to stress, caffeine, or fatigue. But sometimes, twitches and tics can be an ongoing medical condition.

Chronic twitches or tics can be uncomfortable, distracting, and embarrassing. Common conditions that involve facial twitches include:

• Blepharospasm, which involves eyelid twitches
• Hemifacial spasm, which causes twitching on one side of the face

Botox can treat facial tremors, too. Tremors are different than tics. Tremors are typically rhythmic or regular involuntary muscle contractions, while tics are typically irregular.

Our team regularly treats facial and eye conditions with Botox. A series of small injections in and around the affected muscles can relax them and calm spasms and tics. 

Botox for other eye conditions

In addition to involuntary contractions, the muscles around the eyes might not always work like they should. For example, a condition called apraxia of lid opening (ALO) is the inability to open an eyelid after it’s been closed for some time. If you find that your eyelids won’t open after sleeping, you might be affected by ALO.

Another condition, which is called eyelid retraction, is where your upper eyelid is too high or your lower eyelid is too low. Having eyelid retraction means your eyeball is more exposed that it should be, and it might make your eyes dry, irritated, or red.

Another condition is crossed eyes, which is where your eyes don’t look in the same direction at the same time. Also known as strabismus, it develops when the muscles that control eye movements are weak. Botox can even correct strabismus in certain cases. 

Botox for migraines

Migraines are severe headaches that can be accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other symptoms. Botox is FDA-approved to treat patients who get 15 or more migraine headaches per month. It dulls nerve impulses around the head and neck to stop migraine pain before it starts. 

If you’re suffering from an eye twitch that won’t go away, migraine headaches, or another condition affecting your face or eyes, don’t hesitate to make an appointment at Ventura Eye Institute. Our team can help you decide if Botox can relieve your discomfort. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone today.