According to the findings of a small study, led by Dr. Christine C. Kim, a dermatologist in Encino, California, clinical trials on botulinum toxin type A (Botox) – an anti-wrinkle treatment - show that the drug can also help alleviate the symptoms of ocular migraine, which is described as crushing or eye-popping migraine.

However, the study, published in the February edition of Archives of Dermatology, noted that the Botox treatment does not seem to be effective in easing the discomfort of migraines which are experienced as pressure inside the head.

For the study, the researchers observed 18 patients - averaging around 50 years - who had either already received the Botox injections for cosmetic reasons or were planning to do so. The patients also reported having migraines – either imploding or ocular headaches or exploding headaches.

After three months of Botox treatment, 13 patients reported reduction in migraine pain - 10 of whom had earlier reported ocular headaches and three who had exploding headaches.

The researchers also noted that the migraine frequency of the study-subjects was also reduced from a monthly average of 6.8 days to 0.7 days.

Commenting on the findings, Kim said: “While Botox is not a first-line therapy for migraine prophylaxis, more research in this area may reveal that it can work to treat a unique portion of the migraine-suffering population.”