To compare the clinical efficacy, duration of effect, and safety of Dysport and Botox for patients with essential blepharospasm using functional disability scale.

Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of essential blepharospasm who had received Botox (Allergan, USA) from September 2006 to May 2007 were enrolled in this study. We switched from Botox to Dysport (Ipsen, UK) after the botulinum effect of previous injection had disappeared and compared the clinical efficacy of two drugs. We used a 2.5:1 Dysport:Botox conversion ratio. The clinical efficacy of the drugs treatment was evaluated using a functional disability scale. We compared the duration of the effect and the safety of the two drugs.

The study included 48 patients (43 women, 5 men). There was no significant difference in mean functional disability scores or in any item of the functional disability scale. There was no significant difference in duration of effect between Botox (100.2±37.34 days) and Dysport (99.1±39.7days). There was also no significant difference in frequency of adverse reaction between Botox (13%) and Dysport (10%).

When a dose conversion of 2.5:1 Dysport:Botox was used for essential blepharospasm patients, the two drugs displayed almost identical clinical efficacy, duration of effect, and safety.