Myectomy procedure is the surgical removal of eyelid and brow-squeezing muscles to treat blepharospasm. Myectomy prevents the muscles surrounding the eyes from being stimulated by removing the muscle.
Before the availability of botulinum neurotoxin injections, myectomy was essentially the only treatment option for blepharospasm. The introduction of botulinum neurotoxin injections benefited many persons with blepharospasm and changed the population of individuals eligible for myectomy. Candidates for myectomy became those for whom botulinum neurotoxin neurotoxin is not sufficient. Only a very select number of surgical teams in the United States offer this highly specialized procedure.
Last updated: November 2021
Thank you to Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (USA) for allowing us to share this information. The DMRF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing research for improved dystonia treatments and ultimately a cure, promoting awareness, and supporting the well-being of affected individuals and families.