Oasis Form-Fit

[SusieD]

Please can anyone advise on this plug - in particular, does it disolve?

It is a gel plug that expands and forms a soft gelatinous material (intracannicular). I cannot find anywhere where it says how long they can last? My doctor told me at first that they could last a long time - depends on what you think a long time is I suppose. He then said that they can last up to 3 months, I am therefore assuming that during this time, they will either slip or disintergrate?

I cant find any information on this - there is one product leaflet on the web but it does'nt say how long they last.

Many thanks for any info.

[kitty]

There are 3 types of Oasis plugs. Collagen (temporary/testing), extended duration (3 months) and silicone (permanent). What you describe sounds like the extended duration. Visit this link for Oasis Plugs

[SusieD]

Yep thats the leaflet Im talking about - the form-fit seems to be a new addition - I think it was only approved last year. Probably why I cant find much information about it.

All the other ones on the link come in different sizes - this one is a one size fits all type.

[kitty]

I found another source that references a long-term hydrogel version of Oasis Form-Fit. There is a number you can call where you might be able to get more info.

HYDROGEL PUNCTUM PLUG APPROVED BY FDA. Oasis Medical has received FDA approval of its new Form Fit long-term intracanalicular plug. The Form Fit is a one-size plug made of a hydrogel material that conforms to fit all patients. Upon contacting tear film, it expands into a soft, pliable, gelatinous material; in about 10 minutes it becomes completely hydrated and fills the vertical canalicular cavity. It has no anchor or cap and can be easily removed by flushing saline solution through the punctal opening. Form Fit comes pre-loaded on an inserter. The dry plug measures 3.0 mm long and 0.3 mm in diameter; it expands to 20 times the volume of its original size. Form Fit punctal plugs are available in boxes of 10 (five pairs per box). For more information, call 800-528-9786.

Press Release

[SusieD]

Yes - thats the one, thanks.

[SusieD]

Spoke to a specialist optometrist today - he thinks these plugs sound dodgy - great! Still they would have to have been approved etc wouldnt they?

[DrG]

Susie, this subject has come up before, and much has already been said in these forums. Try doing a search.

I have developed the mindset that I do not want to stick anything down into the canaliculus of a patient that might need to be removed later via irrigation or probing. I adopted this philosophy after a visit with a lacrimal surgical specialist who showed me pictures of things he has had to surgically remove from the nasolacrimal canals of patients. The soft silicone Parasol plugs from Odyssey Medical have worked very well in my practice. They are easily placed and easily removed with forceps. Perhaps in a couple of years I will ask the lacrimal specialist how many Oasis gel plugs he has had to extract. If the answer is "zero," then I'll take a serious look at them.

[spaniel]

Thank you Dr. G... so you've had good experience with soft silicone Parasol. Yea, I'm a bitt to spooked about dissolving(?) plugs too.Have had 2 transplants,wear RGPS- have had enough surgeries!!!

[indrep]

The OASIS Form Fit plug is a HYDROGEL material, like many contact lenses made today. When inserted and hydrated it is 90% water. This differs from the Herrick ,(solid silicone)or Medinnium Smart plug(solid Acrylic). Should the Form Fit need to be removed it is not a solid being pushed through the lacrimal system. Also, insertion is easier and not likely to damge tissue.

[shells]

Has anyone actually tried the Oasis Form Fit plug? I'm still struglling with my punctum plugs, and even after all I've been through actually getting them to stay in, I'm just not sure they are right for me. On my bad days when my eyes are driest, I can still feel them scratching my eye and causing more irritation. I saw my doctor last week and she agreed that there is some inflammation around the plugs and my eyes looked drier and more inflamed than usual. She put me on Lotemax for 2 weeks and then I go back and see her to see how I'm feeling. The Lotemax has not been a miracle for me yet, AND I swear I'm about to just pop these plugs out myself. So, I definitely think we will agree to remove them next Monday when I see her. I still want to give plugs a try though, and had been reading up on the Form Fit and though it might be my only other option since I do not want the solid intracannicular kind that might cause problems. Has anyone heard anything bad about this plug? Or actually had any luck with it? Thanks.

-Shells

[SusieD]

I have - only lower though and to be honest have noticed NOTHING! No change to dryness whatsoever - the only advantage I note is that you obviously dont have that scratching sensation.

[shells]

Hi Susie,

Sorry you are not having much luck with the new plug. Did you get any relief from the silicon ones? Or was it too hard to tell because of the scratching? I guess I'm just wondering if the results should be pretty much the same between the two plugs. My doctor was telling me that some plugs block more tears than others. For example, she was saying that my Oasis extended duration 90-day plugs did NOT block 100% of the tears through my lower punctum, but the silicone ones I had now did because they were a good tight fit. I guess I'm wondering if this Oasis Form Fit will block 100% of the tears through the lower punctum. Anyway, I hope you have better luck if you try the uppers. I would like to do that eventually, but it seems to be taking forever just to get the lowers figured out!!!

Oh, one more thing...I'm also curious how your doctor monitors them? Can they tell by looking if they are still in there? Or is it a guessing game like with other intracannicular plugs?

-Shells

[SusieD]

Well, the lower plug in my left eye is a silicone one - and yes, this one always seems (and feels) more moist than my right, which has the form fit.

I dont think there is any way to tell if theyre still there or not as theyre just like jelly inside. This is what I dont like. I think Im going to ask about a silicone one in my right eye also (didnt have one small enough first time round) he will have to try and flush this one out first though. Dilemmas! Be nice if something was straight forward for once eh?