Can Botox Migrate to the Retina if Injected on the Forehead and Cause a Blind Spot?

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forehead blindness migration

11 Doctor Answers | Asked by moneen in cape town SA

Doctor Answers (11)
Community Comments (0)

Your injector should be experienced

The short answer to your question is, no, botox can be safely injected into the muscles around the eyes. There is a vast network of interconnecting arteries and veins around the eyes however. There are many case reports about other products, like fillers, being injected around the eyes which have resulted in embolization of the product into the arteries and veins of the retinan, which have left patients with visual field problems however. Your doctor should be able to tell you about these... more

Botox embolization not likely

Embolization of Botox via the central retinal artery will not cause retinal injury. However, inadvertent injection of facial fillers into this artery can cause blindness. Rest assured that Botox is safe to inject into the forehead muscles and will not cause distal effects.

Botox is not associated with blindness as a complication

No. Botox will not affect the visual part of the retina. It works by preventing nerve communication with muscles that move. There are no moving muscles of the retina. Botox is not a thick liquid that could plug up a blood vessel and interfere with the retina's oxygen supply.

While nothing is impossible, it is highly unlikely

Injections of other medications, especially steroids but even fillers, can enter a blood vessel and result in embolization or thrombosis of a vessel. It this were to occur to the central retinal artery, then it COULD cause blindness. However, this would be very difficult to accomplish unless you were injecting deep into the orbit, or trying intentionally to inject into another artery that supplies this area. None of the superficial facial or forehead vessels do this, and so... more

Botox and blindness

I have never heard of Botox causing blindness. I do not even think this is a theoretical consideration based upon common injection areas. However, with filler, it is a different issue and has been reported and is theoretically possible of filler is inadvertently injected into a retinal blood vessel.

Steven Hacker, MD

3 reviews

West Palm Beach Dermatologic Surgeon

Fillers might do this, but not BOTOX®

You may be confusing reports of very rare retinal complications after injections of fillers [for example, Restylane® or fat] into the area around the eyes. In such cases the filler might accidentally be injected into a blood vessel and travel through the network of vessels around the eye, ultimately blocking a vessel in the retina and causing visual problems. BOTOX® [and other formulations of BTX-A, including Dysport® and XEOMIN®] are liquids [saline] and have no ability... more

Can Botox injected on forehead cause blindness?

Assuming it is injected properly, it is hard to imagine ANY scencario in which this could happen. Blindness is not a side effect of Botox and normally if injected properly the risk of drooping of the eyebrow or eyelid although possible is small. If that were to happen however, it is conceivable that your vision could be affected but it would be a physical interference of the vision by a weakened eyelid. This of course is not blindness and an untoward effect such as this... more

Can botox migrate to the retina

Only if you put the needle into the eyeball and really push hard. If this occurs, you have significant other issues. When injected into the muscles around the eye, it is unlikely to have migration backwards and most if not all of the product is rapidly taken up by musles. The amounts injected are miniscule so I dont think it is an issue.

Botox injections are safe and effective

The short answer is no. Botox is one of the most studied drugs available today. When used as directed for cosmetic purposes it is very safe and the main risk is bruising from the treatment, which is temporary. The good news is that this is not something to worry about from botox, however, if you are having an issue, you should definitely see an eye doctor so they can evaluate and help you understand the possible underlying cause of your visual changes.

Botox Cosmetic does not cause blindness.

BOTOX is injected into muscles of facial expression and primarily affects the location it is injected. A small amount of the agent can spread in the blood stream to cause systemic side effects. These are minimal for cosmetic treatments. There effects are primarily associated with injecting BOTOX for medical reasons. Blindness is not a known side effect of this agent. So rest assured that your treatment will not cause blindness. However, there are a variety... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

8 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Forehead Botox

When injected properly, botox should stay within the muscle, bind the appropriate receptors and prevent the release of neurotransmitters that cause muscles to contract. It would be a stretch for botox injected into the forehead muscles to travel to the eye and cause a blind spot.