Botox injections work by weakening or paralyzing certain muscles or by blocking certain nerves. The treatment for strabismus using botox takes a few minutes. Botox starts working within a few hours or days. The effects last about three to four months.

There are risks associated with this procedure. Botox is a toxin and can be potent in high concentrations. Only small, diluted amounts of Botox are used in treatments. Having an eye doctor or ophthalmologist perform your Botox treatment helps to ensure the safety of your eyes and your vision.

The most common side effects from Botox are headache and temporary redness or bruising of the skin at the injection site. More serious complications are rare but nearby muscles could be affected and weakened. If Botox seeps below the eyebrow and into the muscle that controls eyelid function, the eyelid might droop (ptosis). Though the effect is not permanent and will eventually go away as the Botox wears off, drooping eyelids may temporarily obstruct your ability to see.


For more information: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/botox.h tml

I was born with strabismus and had two eye surgeries to correct it at 1yr and 18 months. After that, my eyes were fine until I hit puberty. At that time, my left eye turned in. I had botox injections in my eyes and they were straight for about 3 months before the left one turned back in. I had it done a year later with the same result. From what I have read, you can do this often, every 3 months to keep your eye straight. It was an easy, outpatient procedure, and from what I remember I had some eye soreness, but nothing major! I have had 3 eye surgeries since that time, and can tell you that the Botox is a walk in the park and gave me great results! Even after all my 7 surgeries, my left eye still turns... now it just turns out some. I would go Botox, and probably will before my wedding!

Hope this helps...

had this done on left eye a few months ago - 1/2 dose - no real effect - had it done 4 days ago - full dose - left eye straight - amazing!! but slightly up now (looks v. slightly to ceiling but of curse I see this as if it is looking down) but I have little vision in the eye so it does not matter - it still looks heaps better

but how does it move in sync with the other eye?

I am thinking of getting Botox done and also concerned at how the eyes move in sync. If a muscle is paralysed then does that mean that the eye cannot move in a certain direction (eg inwards) which may then lead to double vision when looking in a particular direction?

Also if the eye cannot move then does this make the cosmetic appearance worse when looking, for instance to the left as one eye will be looking to the left whilst the other remains looking straight ahead?