Topical naphazoline in the treatment of myasthenic blepharoptosis

. When treating ocular myasthenia gravis (MG), the risk/benefit profile of corticosteroids is unclear, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are not very effective. We examined the efficacy of topical naphazoline in the treatment of myasthenic blepharoptosis. Methods . Sixty MG patients with blepharoptosis (32 with ocular symptoms only and 28 with mild generalized symptoms) were enrolled in a multicenter open trial of topical naphazoline. The effects were reported by patients via a questionnaire and were also confirmed for each patient at the clinic. Results . Among 70 eyes of 60 patients, 20 eyes (28.6%) of 17 patients (28.3%) exhibited a marked response (full eye opening), and 24 eyes (34.3%) of 20 patients (33.3%) showed a good response (adequate but incomplete eye opening). Topical naphazoline was evaluated as useful in the treatment of myasthenic blepharoptosis by >70% of the patients. Conclusions . Topical naphazoline was found to be an effective supplementary symptomatic treatment for myasthenic blepharoptosis. Muscle Nerve 44: 41–44, 2011.