LACRIMAL PLUGS-anyone know or have?

[rjroubi]

I have severely dry eyes...it is effecting my vision.... Some days I see better then others only because my cornea is not well protected. My contact lense prescription has changed twice in 6 weeks and five times in a year (Besides protecting you from infection, a healthy tear film is necessary for clear vision and they are unable to nail down the correct Rx for me because of this.) My ophthamologist is recommending permanent lacrimal plugs.....currently, I have dissolvable ones (these will only last 9 days). (I am aware there are cases where the permanent ones may not be reversible and may require invasive surgical interventioned to remove them.) Restasis (eye drops) is not an option for me.... my ophthamologist hasn't found them as effective and compliance is not my forte.

Anyone have these or thoughts on these? They do make me a little uneasy because I really don't know a lot about them.

Robin

 

[Marie1120]

I have them. First they did the kind they usually use but I had pain with these because of the anatomy of my eye. They took these out and put in some called Smart Plugs. They expand to fit the lacrimal duct. These are very comfortable and I don't even know I have them. These have been in for over a year. As far as if they helped, that would be hard to say. I have a very unusual problem so I would say that they have helped some but still a constant issue for me to deal with. If the dissolvable ones are helping than the permanent ones should help. The procedure was done in the office and not bad. Having the first ones removed was not a pleasant experience but was done right in the office. My situation is so weird so not sure if I have helped or can help with your questions, but feel free to ask away. You can send me an email if you prefer.

 

[BROYLES60]

My mother had the permanent plugs put in and they have improved her dry eyes but she is very thin, with little to no body fat (5ft 5in, 100 lb) and she can feel the implants under her skin. She descibes the sensation as slightly disconcerting but it does improve her dry eyes. She had a caterac (sp) at age 25, subsequent lense removal and later as technology improved laser surgery to better her vision but the tear ducts suffered along the way. She is relatively happy with the results of the plugs.

 

[flatbelly]

I have them but forgot that I have them.....go for it.

 

[rjroubi]

I just want to thank you all for your great feedback! I now have the permanent plugs and my vision has really improved tremendously

Thanks so much again,
Robin