Punctal Plugs
What are Punctal Plugs?
Punctal plugs are silicone devices that are gentle and smaller than a grain of rice. These plugs are an excellent treatment choice when there's an issue with our tear quality, if we have anatomically large tear ducts, or if our tear glands don't produce enough tears to keep our eyes properly lubricated. The plugs are inserted into the lower tear ducts - puncta - of our eyelids in order to prevent our tears from draining out, while the upper puncta remain open to continue flushing debris from our eyes. This mechanism relieves Dry Eye Disease by allowing our ocular surface to hold onto our tears, thereby, retaining moisture in our eyes for a longer period of time.
The Procedure
The insertion process is simple and takes less than 5 minutes. A numbing drop will be instilled to help minimize any discomfort. An applicator tool is used to place the plug into the “punctum” of the lower eyelid. During this time, you might feel a slight tug, but it is otherwise painless. After the plug is inserted, you’ll be asked to blink a few times to make sure they are secure. Then, you’ll be free to resume your normal daily activities.
Types of Punctal Plugs
Punctal plugs are made from biocompatible material and can be semi-permanent or temporary.
The semi-permanent plug is made of a long-lasting silicone material. It has a transparent, low-profile cap that rests on the top of the duct opening with a flexible silicone body to ensure comfort.
The extended-duration plug is made of a dissolvable material that lasts up to 3 months before it is naturally absorbed by the body. It is capless as it rests completely inside the tear duct.
Temporary plugs are typically used as a post-LASIK technique to prevent side effects of Dry Eye and can sometimes be used to determine whether plugs may be right for the patient before applying the semi-permanent option.
Are Punctal Plugs Right For You?
Punctal plugs can add great value to a Dry Eye treatment regimen for tear film related causes of Dry Eyes. Set up your consultation to learn about your tear film quality and the treatment plan that will work best for your case.