Botox Q&A

64%

WORTH IT RATING

854 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Botox Cost: $425

Learn about Botox

3,016 people and 923 doctors are talking about Botox

Get Free Email Updates

Eye Infection from Botox Eye Droop?

asked 3 years ago by fawndgirl in canada
Latest answer by George J. Beraka, MD
Question viewed 4,147 times
Tags: eyes, droopy, infection, side effects

I had Botox done around last month, and I experienced drooping in one eye. I used drops to deal with the drooping, and somehow, my eye got infected. Does the infection have anything to do with Botox or the eye drops?

13 answers to Eye Infection from Botox Eye Droop?

Seek professional advice from a specialist to ensure that the infection is under control.

A very well recognized side effect of Botox is drooping of the upper eyelid. Infection of the eye is most likely unrelated directly to the injection of Botox . If the eyelid was not making proper contact with the globe of the eye, you could have conjuctitivits, which is inflammation of the outer layer of the eye. Another possible source of the infection could be related to the eye drops, if the bottle was old and contaminated from prior use. Otherwise, it is anyone’s guess. What... more

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD
Englewood Plastic Surgeon

Botox does not cause eye infection.

Hi. The Botox absolutely has nothing to do with the eye infection. It is possible however that the eye drops you used were contaminated and caused the infection.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

See An Ophthamalogist

It sounds like you had a lid drop or "quaz" (ptosis) as the Botox may have hit your Levator Palpebrae muscle. You were then prescribed eye drops to strengthen an eye muscle (Muller's) to help lift up the lid (Iodipine). Fairly commonly people develop an allergic conjunctivitis to this product and maybe you are one of them. It is also possible that you ahve a viral conjunctivitis as there is a lot of that running around. ( I just came back from the eye doctor and he was talking... more

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Virginia Beach Dermatologist

Eye infection after Botox is very rare

It is very rare to have an infection from a Botox injection. Also, it would typically happen at the injection site and not the eye itself. It appears that the drops may be the source and Botox is only indirectly involved as you had to use the eyedrops after getting Botox treatment. I would suggest stopping the eyedrops and seeing your physician to have your eye examined to make sure you are using the correct treatment to resolve your infection.

Bahram Ghaderi, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

May be related, but indirectly

From your description, it sounds like the botox created a situation where your dry eye required drops. The drops may be contaminated, or perhaps you did not use perfect non-sterile technique to apply drops. I would recommend getting rid of the old drops, and being meticulous about keeping everything out of the eye, and using sterile tehnique.

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Eye Inflammation or Infection after Botox: How do you tell the difference?

It's hard to tell if this is inflammation or infection which can mimic each other. If you are not moving your eyelids, it is possible that you will develop a dry eye or be unable to blink or wash out foreign objects such as dust that can enter your eye in the normal course of the day. This is similar to a wiper blade cleans a windshield. If it does not wipe completely across the window it will not clear the glass and dust will build up. Generally, this causes a watery discharge... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Very Very Unlikely

I am an Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeon who is board certified in Ophthalmology and Cosmetic Surgery. Eye injections are caused by bacteria, viruses or fungus. Like many medications, Botox is made from chemicals found in nature. Botox is a chemical that is made from bacteria, but no bacteria are present in the bottle. It is very similar to penicillin being made from bread mold. There is no mold in penicillin. Eye infections are very common. The most common, by far, is pink eye which is... more

Marc Cohen, MD
Philadelphia Oculoplastic Surgeon

May need to see an eye doctor

The medications that are used to counteract the botox effects on the lid can cause conjuncitvitis. But, you should probably go see an ophthalmologist to be sure.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Call your doctor

Eyelid drooping from Botox is a well known complication. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes the Botox can affect the muscle that helps to lift your eyelid - called the levator. When this happens, your eyelid in one eye will be lower than the other no matter how hard you try to lift it. In order to counteract this, you can use drops that will stimulate a different muscle - called Muller's muscle- that will help to raise your eyelid slightly. The drops won't completely counteract the... more

Edward S. Lee, MD
Englewood Plastic Surgeon

Not usually linked to Botox

As has been mentioned, it is very likely to have an allergic reaction if you have a drooping eyelid and are using drops to counteract the Botox. An allergic conjunctivitis is not uncommon. However, an actual infection is rare. You should be looked at closely to determine if you in fact have a reaction or an infection. Your physician or an opthalmologist should be able to help take care of you. Good luck.

Sirish Maddali, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon

Drops to counteract botox-induced eyelid droop

Eyelid drooping (blepharoptosis) is an exceedingly rare result of botox injections. This complication is highly related to the injection technique and placement. Droop of the upper eyelid does not cause dryness or infection, in fact it makes the surface of the eye less dry. The clearance of tears from the eyes is not related to the muscle that causes eyelid droop (levator palbeprae muscle) but it is related to the eyelid closing muscle (orbicularis oculi) which can be affected if you had... more

Brett S. Kotlus, MD
Rochester Oculoplastic Surgeon

See your doctor

Botox causes the eyelid drooping. The eye can become dry and then develop conjunctivitis. Alternatively, the weakened muscle can affect the lacrimal drainage system and this may cause the infection. Or, the discomfort of the sagging eyelid can result in increased manual manipulation of the eyelid, which can result in an infection. Or the eyedrops were contaminated and that gave you the infection. Odviously, the reasons for your problem could be many. Go see your doctor. Robert M. Freund, MD,... more

Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Difficult to be sure

Without understanding more of your history it is difficult to be sure (for example have you ever had an eye infection before? What was the nature of the eye infection?). When botox spreads to muscles that affect the lid there can be a problem with drooping. Typically this would mean that the lid muscles would not elevate the lid and one could argue that the mechanical wiping motion and flushing of the natural fluid over the eye into the tear ducts could cause some bacterial build-up. But... more