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1932338 tn?1349220398

Botox injection affecting retina?

Dear Dr. Hagan,

You know the eye anatomy better than anyone, so I have an important question for you...

Can several Botox injections (for laugh lines around the sides of eye)  to the side and below the eye accidently get into the blood vessels and travel to the back of the eye ?  

I have had several Botox injections on the sides and below my eye (3:00 to 6:00 on a clock) and they have hit blood vessels where my entire eye area became black and blue from blood for several days.
My thoughts are, logically couldn't that Botox have leaked into the damaged blood vessel and travelled to the back of my eye?  Is that anatomically possible ?  
5 Responses
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I don't think it's necessarily that I know more than other Eye MDs it's that in this forum I take the time to explain. With all the demands of caring for an aging poplation, reduced insurance reimbursment, higher malpractice insurance costs, higher over-head and the looming cuts in Medicare (over 30%) physicians don't have the time to explain. It's going to get much much much worse 1/1/13   and if Medicare cuts go into effect.

JCH
Helpful - 0
1932338 tn?1349220398
Thanks again, I will try to read the article !  Believe me when I say you know so much more than any Doctor I've spoken to.  Wish you were near Seattle.
Helpful - 0
233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
In the October 2012 issue of American Journal of Ophthalmology page 653 is an article on 12 patients having severe visual loss including blindness from cosmetic facial filler injections. Anytime, anything, is injected by anyone there is a small risk of bleeding or the injected material inadvertently being injected within a artery or vein.

It is almost impossible that botox caused your ERM.

JCH MD
Helpful - 0
1932338 tn?1349220398
Huummmm....it's got me thinking about the last time the botox injection on the side and below my eye hit a vessel and then not long after that I have an unexpected, unexplained serious ERM on my macula.  
I had surgery for the ERM 1 and 1/2 years ago.

I have serious crows feet and was thinking about going for botox injections again around the eye but I do NOT want to take a chance that if they hit another blood vessel that I MIGHT have more eye issues.  Darn...the botox really helped my wrinkles.

I've heard of "fillers" like restyline clotting in the blood vessels, but I didn't know that botox could travel into the blood and go directly behind the eye.  If you think there is even a 1 % chance of that happening I'll just have to look wrinkled. ;-(  

Your input is greatly appreciated, I so respect your opinion.
Helpful - 0
233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
yes it is possible as side effects of injecting face, lids, crow's feet include double vision or droopy upper lid (ptosis). It's more likely that the needle caused bleeding and the blood drained down channels around the eye and got the bruise. If it was botox you would expect problems like I outlined in the first sentence.

JCH MD
Helpful - 0
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