Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin in Patients with Infantile Esotropia: Long-Term Effects with a Single Injection

Abstract

Objectives: Botulinum toxin A (BTX) can be used for strabismus in cases of congenital esotropia or large-angle horizontal strabismus in adults, as well as acute paretic strabismus when surgical treatment of the ocular muscles is not yet possible. This study investigated the long-term efficacy of BTX in patients with infantile esotropia (IE).Methods: A single-center, retrospective study was performed. The patients had esotropia onset before 12 months and aged were ≤24 months. A successful outcome was defined as ocular alignment within 8 to 10 prism diopters (PD) of orthotropia.Results: A record review identified 6 patients: 2 boys and 4 girls. The mean age was 14.3±5.4 months. The mean followup time was 30.5±12.4 months. A BTX injection was effective, achieving results of a change in deviation from 34.2±5.8 PD (range: 25-40 PD) to orthophoria.Conclusion: BTX injections can be considered as a primary treatment for patients with IE that may have successful longterm results. Further longitudinal studies are required to support this conclusion