I have dry eyes. My dr suggests to plug my tear duct. Does it help ? can I have it remove if I don't like. Is it a serious procedure ? Please share your experiences.
Thanks

tHERE ARE DIFFERENT SIZE PUNCTUM PLUGS AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS BOTHER TO FIT IT CORRECTLY.

tHERE ARE DIFFERENT SIZE PUNCTUM PLUGS AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS BOTHER TO FIT IT CORRECTLY. Make sure to ask him what size you are (purely to make him know you are aware). These are temporary. There is a new temporary plug called a smart plug which can expnad and decrease, preventing pain. Ask about it. If the temporary plug feels comfortable, you can consider a permanent sealing. I would not do this first because it is irreversible. Lyle

My doctor put in a tear duct plug a couple of months ago and so far so good. It did not hurt at all when he put it in. It was a little uncomfortable for about a day.

I found that at night my eyes open up so I now sleep with a sleep mask on. These two things have greatly helped my dry eyes. I rarely need to put in drops.

Thanks for all imputs. I called my dr. office and the nurse said there's a dissolvable plug. I left a msg, still waiting for the dr. to call me

I have upper and lower plugs, no complaints. Had the collagen first (trial run) then the lowers, then the uppers. Insertion was a painless, simple procedure. So, thumbs up.
Good Luck, Gemi :)

Hi efriend - I experienced dry eyes for the first time last year. It was due to blepharitis (swelling of the eyelids). My eyes were super dry and I was in so much pain that I was having to use artficial tears about once every hour! The worst was at night when I would try to sleep. I basically didn't get a full night's rest for about three months. My ophthalmologist wasn't exactly sure what was going on with my eyes at the time, and he couldn't guarantee that the dry eye symptoms would ever get better. This is when he suggested I try the punctal plugs. He inserted the temporary kind and, at least for me, they were extremely uncomfortable and painful at first. But I got used to them over the next couple days. They did in fact help alleviate some of the dry eye symptoms, but I was still having to use artificial tears several times a day. Ultimately, when it came down to my having to make a final decision about having the permanent plugs inserted, I opted not to do this. I wanted to be able to gauge if my eyes were getting better on their own (does that make sense?). Anyway, now a year later, my eyes are just fine and I don't even have to use artificial tears anymore.

Have you had dry eyes for very long? Do you know what's causing them to be dry? These are things I would consider before having the plugs inserted. But, one nice thing about the "permanent" plugs is that they can, in fact, be removed later if your eyes get better or you don't like them. So maybe they'll be a really good choice for you! If you do decide to get them, I hope they work out for you. Some people really like them. My only objection to them was that I wouldn't be able to tell if/when my eyes were getting better. Okay, good luck! :)

Hi Jen2003
My dry eyes started cos I have immune diesease. It's called Sjogren. One time, it was so bad, My eye lids sticked to my eye balls when I woke up. I changed my opthalmalogogist latey lt and he suggested I had the plug. I feel very uncomfortable to put anything in the eyes. I think I will go for it if he put the 'temporary' in to test how I feel.
Thanks for the input

The collagen "temporary plugs" won't give you any indication of how the actual perm. plugs will feel because the collagen is applied to the lower eye lid rim, whereas the "permanent plugs" are inserted to occlude the punctum to halt nasolacrimal drainage. The punctum is the drainage system for the eyes.

Temporary plugs are considered temps because they are applied & eventually dissolve, Temps: act as a dam (slowly dissolving)
Permanent plugs are considered perm because actual plugs are inserted and can be removed, Perms: act as a cork. (permanent dam via plug)

Plug insertion is similar to putting a ring on your finger. By description the procedure sounds serious but is simple and painless. It's considered a surgical procedure but involves no cutting.

Hi efriend - if you have Sjogren's syndrome, I bet the plugs will really help you. And if Gemi is correct, then maybe you should bypass the temporary plugs altogether (?). But It's not clear to me why they would even have the temporary plugs at all, if in fact they give you no indication what the permanent ones are like. What's the use? Why even have them? Hmmm..... For me, having the temporary plugs put in was extremely painful and uncomfortable. I couldn't see the plug itself, but I could sure feel it inside the duct until it finally dissolved. Hopefully it's not the same for the permanent ones. I hope you find relief from your dry eyes soon! :)

Hi Jen, I have sjogrens, the temp plugs and the permanant plugs upper and lower with no pain. What are talking about? What you describe does not make sense. They (temps plugs) don't dissolve "in" the duct, temp collagen plugs are "applied" to lower lid margin, n o t inserted into the duct. In dry eye conditions it's done to see if it keeps tears in the eyes, offering relief for dry eye symptoms, also, it's not a cheap procedure, some insurance companys want the trial plugs done first before they pay for the permanant ones.

If you had some type of occular, or lid etc infection, inflammation I could see that causing pain but not temp plugs themselves. The temp "plug" is really a catch phrase, because it does not actually physically "plug" anything.

What you describe does not sound like temporary plugs or permanant plugs, or at least not the experience I've had. Based on personal experience, temp. plugs are applied not inserted and it's not painful. Temp plugs are not inserted in the duct. What are you talking about? I think you are confusing the two.

What are you talking about? Temporary plugs are plugs that go IN the tear ducts. They are dissolvable after a few days and their purpose is to see if they help at all. If they do, then you can get the permanent plugs. I've had the temps and they without a doubt go IN your tear ducts. I could even see the whole insertion process in the reflection from the doctor's equipment. One was painful, so I returned the next day for the doctor to push it further INTO the duct. And yes, it physically plugs up your tear duct. Otherwise, what sense would it make to even try it? Your post doesn't make any sense.

By the way, there are different types of dissolvable plugs. I found one type with a flanged end to be very painful, but another type with a smooth end was totally comfortable.

I'm talking about different ones that don't involve that type of penetration and involve zero pain. The entire point of post was to inform the enitial poster there are painless plugs out there in regards to the enitial question. Positioning of Herrick Lacrimal Plug in the superior canaliculus with Collagen Plugs in the inferior are not the ones I have.

I asked my neighbor (an ophthalmologist) last night and he said there is no sort of temporary plug that is "applied"--only ones that are inserted into the tear duct. Perhaps you had a different procedure done? He didn't know of any that sounded like you described, and in my extensive research have never heard any mention of whatever it is you are talking about. Perhaps you can give us the name of this mysterious item?

Hi - I don't know what brand of temporary plugs I had, but I do know for a fact that they were put inside my tear duct and that they were very uncomfortable/painful for me, especially the first day. Not an experience I'd like to go through ever again. But, as I mentioned before, some people are fine with these plugs and don't seem to have any problems. I may just have very sensitive eyes/eyelids.

I know they were temps that were applied. The "permanent" ones I had "inserted" were the peg like ones (don't recall the name). I don't need research to know what the eye doc did for/to help the dry eye. Maybe I'm not explaining it properly, would not be the first time. Perhaps she performed a different technique, bottom line, did not hurt, still was done. I don't know the specific name other then it was collagen and that it dissolved and was "applied" allong the MARGIN OF MY LOWER LID RIM lol...On the margin/rim there is no place to insert accept the punctum. Look around and ask. If your doctor does not "do" this temp. collagen "application" then what can I say. In layman terms because I don't know the jargon, these tiny clear blobs (collagen) were placed, applied, put onto (however you want to phrase it) ONTO THE RIM OF MY LOWER LID RIM :) I think we are talking about different applications. If I knew what the technique was called, I would have already mentioned it BUT for those who are want to try the collogen you can ask your doctor and if there are different techniques to applying the collagen end of story and ask him/her about the risk of pain etc. If they do, they do, don't they don't. She very well may have put them along the rim AS WELL as the puncta, it is possible and would make sense. I saw her with that instrument go back and forth as she picked up the blobs (for lack of proper terminology) and placed them. I saw the tiny things up close and personal. tomato, tomoto, tato, toto...People who are looking around, ask your eye doctor the professional what they do and don't do and what your options are. Everyone reacts in there own way. Good luck.

Jen, sorry you had pain with yours. Hope you are doing better these days. I've got something starting up inside the lower lid now. I'm using antibiotic drops but think I'm going to have to go to a new eye doc. I moved so have to go to a new doc. I was happy with the doc I have been with for years but don't feel well enough for the long drive to see her. Good luck.
ps-Thanks, I understand your points. Hope your feeling relief.