Botox After Retinal Detachment?

Cosmetic Botox can safely be used around the eyelids without affecting the Retina.  As an ocular plastic surgeon many of my cosmetic patients have had past retinal, glaucoma, or cataract surgeries.  I have safely and effectively injected Botox, Dysport and fillers like Restylane, Sculptra and Juvederm around the eyelids for over a decade.

Botox should be used with caution and care around the eye.  The appropriate amount of dilution and proper technique are important.  Retinal detachment is not a contraindication for use of Botox with an experienced injector.

There is no reason why the Botox would effect the retinal detachment.  As always, however, please make sure that you are being injected by an experienced physician.  Good luck.

There is no reason why you shouldn’t use Botox. Botox injections should not affect the inner eye so feel free to go ahead and use it.

Although Botox is used around the eyes, the visual complex of the eye is not affected.  The two systems are completely different embryologically.  Thus, it is OK for you to undergo Botox injections with a history of retinal detachment. 

We actually have an employee that had laser surgery for retinal detachment several years ago and since that time has been safely injected with Botox and Dysport more than a few times.

Botox injections will not affect the inner eye so feel free to move forward.

Medical grade botulinum toxins such as Botox or Dysport works by blunting the neuromuscular junction and thereby relaxing muscles and minimizing frown lines. Eye problems such as retinal detachment should not be affected. Very rarely when Botox or Dysport is injected for the 11's between eyebrows, the upper eyelids may be affected and slightly droopy eyelids may persist for few weeks but should not affect vision.

I am not aware of any reason in particular that would preclude you from having Botox injections following retinal detachment surgery. The muscle groups that are normally targeted during cosmetic Botox injections are anatomically distinct and distant from the retina. You should be fine proceeding with Botox treatment. 

Since Botox remains in the local area of injection, you should have no concerns about potential effects on the retina. Likewise, I am unaware of any documentation of intraocular effect of Botox.

Some people who have retinal detachment are more near-sighted than others. Botox would not change this characteristic of your vision and would not make you more prone to a retinal detachment. The common uses of Botox for the area between the eyebrows and the crows feet (sides of the eyes) would not make you more susceptible to developing a retinal detachment. As you have had a history of such, you could feel even more secure by checking with your retinal specialist.