Hello All,

I had LASIK surgery in September, 2002 and an enhancement surgery in March of this year. After the second surgery and with the coming of allergy season in Dallas, my eyes became painfully dry.

In April, my doctor inserted Smart Plugs in my lower tear ducts. Smart Plugs differ from the older silicone plugs I tried several years ago in that they are made from a flexible, thermosensitive acrylic material that adjusts to the exact shape and size of your punctum. You can't feel them! They won't fall out on their own and can't be rubbed out. Your doctor, however, can irrigate them out with a saline solution if you don't want them.

My eyes feel 100% better but with having to start taking Zyrtec-D everyday and sometimes twice a day, I'm looking into Restasis. Has it produced tears you can feel in anyone who has tried it? Thanks!

Hi I am currently using restasis since it became available in April I have not yet seen results but i was told it sometimes take months for any results

I currently have lower & upper punctal plugs,you mentioned smart plugs is that something new and are they much better than the silicone plugs.

could you give me any information on them?

Hello Cherokee,

Yes, I think the Smart Plugs are dramatically beter then the silicone ones. Because they are made of a substance that shrinks in length and expands in width with your body temperature, they become a virtually undetectable soft gel after inserted. I am so-o-o surprised I can tolerate and really not even feel these plugs. The silicone ones drove me nuts - I had to have the doctor take them out about a week after they were put in.

I've had these since the third week in April. It only
took a few minutes to get them in. A week after I had them put in, my tear film had gotten much better and my vision was clearer. (Lack of a good tear film effected my vision - made it 20/40 instead of 20/20.)

I researched them for about a week before I decided to try them - you can also by checking out the website, Medennium.com. They cost $300, but my health insurance covered 80% under medical. (I don't have vision coverage). Let me know if you have any other questions.

Also, I wanted to ask you about the Restasis. Besides not making a big difference yet, do you have any bad side effects? Do you know what caused your dry eyes?

Hope to hear from you. Thanks!

HI Thanks for the info on the smart plugs I am definately going to try them.

Restasis only side affect i know of is ocular burning in some people i am not having a problem with that. I have no idea what caused my dry eyes it came on practically overnight in April 2002 i seen many eye drs they don't know either they can't even tell me which tear componant is missing this has been a real nightmare, well i hope this helps

good luck jen

Hi I forgot to ask you did you dr have to order the smart plugs and if so how long it take for him to recieve them.

You mention your eyes would get bothered by the silicone plugs what where your symptoms. I ask because last week i got upper plugs in, and my eyes are killing me. I have more tears but they are itching and burning more it don't make any sense


Thanks again, jen

Hi Jen,

So you've been dealing with your dry eyes for over a year now? Bummer. Do you wear contacts?

I had worn gas permeable contacts (hard ones) for about 20 years and then age, I guess, got to me. It got harder and harder to keep my lens in all day; that's when I tried the silicone plugs. The symptoms I experienced were that I could feel the plugs in my eyes, they itched, and besides that, they didn't really cause more tears. Oh yes, they itched.

Because my doctor does alot of eye surgery, and deals with dry eyes alot, he had the Smart Plugs in stock. Because of their design and material, they might not irritate the sensitive tissue in your eyes.

Good luck. Let me know how it goes.
Kathy