Surgery

Patient information for Translation

Botulinum Toxin (Botox) Injection for Squint

Introduction

This leaflet gives you some information about the Botox injection you will be having for your squint.

What is Botox?

Botox is the trade name for botulinum toxin, which is a toxin produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum that can cause food poisoning. The Botox we use in the clinic is specially manufactured to remove the poisonous component so that it is completely safe to use.

How does it work?

Botox works by paralysing the muscle it is injected into, which stops it from working. It is injected directly into the muscle, under the guidance of a machine called an electromyelogram (EMG). This allows the injection to be directed accurately into the muscle.

Verifying your identity

When you attend the hospital you will be asked to confirm your first and last names, date of birth, postcode and NHS number if you know it and to let us know whether you have any allergies.

Consent

By law we must obtain your written consent before any operation and some other procedures. Staff will explain all the risks, benefits and alternatives before they ask you to sign the consent form. If you are unsure about any aspect of your treatment, please speak to a senior member of staff.

What will happen on the day of my procedure?

You will be asked to sign the consent form and the correct eye will be assessed and marked, as you are about to have an operation.  An orthoptist, who normally examines your squint at each visit, will take some measurements of your squint before the procedure.

You will be asked to sit in a chair and then lie back. Local anaesthetic eye drops will be given to numb your eye so the procedure will not hurt. We will stick adhesive pads on your face to ensure the EMG picks up a good signal. We will ask you to move your eyes and then insert the needle into the muscle. You will hear a noise as the EMG machine indicates that the needle is in the right position. Sometimes we will ask you to follow someone’s finger with your eyes to make these steps easier for you. The injection is given, and the needle stays in place for around 20 seconds which prevents the Botox from flowing out of the muscle.

Although the Botox procedure only takes a few minutes, you should expect to be at the hospital for two to three hours or more for all the steps described to be carried out.

You do not need to be accompanied to the hospital and you may drive afterwards.

Will the Botox start working straightaway?

No. It will begin working about two to three days after the injection, which may lead to some double vision, but this will only be temporary. If you find this difficult to cope with, close one eye or wear a patch until the double vision passes.

What are the side effects of Botox?

The main side effects include

• Double vision
• Bleeding to the white of the eye (subconjunctival haemorrhage)
• Dry eyes
• Drooping of the lids

These effects are temporary, and we can give you lubricant drops for dry eyes.

There is a small risk of loss of vision in the eye being treated, but this is exceptionally rare.

Will I have to come back to the clinic?

Yes. We will see you in the clinic about two weeks after the procedure, then again at six weeks and finally after three months. This allows us to take measurements and see how well the Botox has worked.

When will the Botox wear off?

The Botox injection will wear off after about three months but sometimes it can last a bit longer. Your eye will then return to the position it was in before you had the injection. It is possible to have this procedure a number of times if it is considered necessary.

Further information

If you would like further information on this procedure or if you have any problems afterwards please contact our team at 0208 535 6710 or extension 6675.

Out of hours, weekends or bank holidays contact your GP or go to our Urgent Care Centre or A and E department.

Please ask if you need this leaflet in an alternative format.

Large print and other languages

This information can be made available in alternative formats, such as easy read or large print, and may be available in alternative languages, upon request. For more information, speak to your clinical team.

এই তথ্যগুলো সহজে পড়া যায় অথবা বৃহৎ প্রিন্টের মত বিকল্প ফরম্যাটে পাওয়া যাবে, এবং অনুরোধে অন্য ভাষায়ও পাওয়া যেতে পারে। আরো তথ্যের জন্য আপনার ক্লিনিক্যাল টিমের সাথে কথা বলুন।

Na żądanie te informacje mogą zostać udostępnione w innych formatach, takich jak zapis większą czcionką lub łatwą do czytania, a także w innych językach. Aby uzyskać więcej informacji, porozmawiaj ze swoim zespołem specjalistów.

Macluumaadkaan waxaa loo heli karaa qaab kale, sida ugu akhrinta ugu fudud, ama far waa weyn, waxana laga yabaa in lagu heli luuqaado Kale, haddii la codsado. Wixii macluumaad dheeraad ah, kala hadal kooxda xarunta caafimaadka.

Bu bilgi, kolay okunurluk veya büyük baskılar gibi alternatif biçimlerde sunulabilir, ve talep üzerine Alternatif Dillerde sunulabilir. Daha fazla bilgi için klinik ekibinizle irtibata geçin.

یہ معلومات متبادل فارمیٹس میں دستیاب کی جا سکتی ہیں، جیسا کہ پڑھنے میں آسان یا بڑا پرنٹ  اور درخواست پر متبادل زبانوں میں بھی دستیاب ہو سکتی ہیں۔ مزید معلومات کے لیے، اپنی کلینکل ٹیم سے بات کریں'۔

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Reference: BH/PIN/1144

Publication date: July 2022

All our patient information leaflets are reviewed every three years.