Is it possible to have abnormally large punctua?

[Nanerpus]

I'm wondering if it's just me, but when I put a FULL drop of my PF tears in my eyes, if I am careful not to move or blink hard that full drop will drain out and disappear within seconds with no spillage. Does that mean that my holes are large, or is that normal? Then my nose runs and sometimes the liquid even comes out or I taste it.

I'm getting plugs in a few weeks and I'm really really really hoping it will help. I'm putting in tears all day long. I have aqueous deficiency.

[spmcc]

RE: XL puncta

Hi,

I don't know about XL puncta, but early on in my DE (1990s) I was told to "pinch"/press the inner corners of my eyes after instilling drops in order to make sure they remain in/on the eyes longer.

As for plugs, I've had so many different types and sizes. For instance, in May, I had 3-month dissolvable plugs size .3mm put in the upper puncta (the lower are cauterized). I had NO improvement.

Then, in Oct, I went in and asked to have a bigger size. The doctor used .5mm and they went in just fine. Unfortunately, I still have no improvement.

I am convinced now that fitting plugs is much more involved than I thought in the past. If you get the wrong size and have no improvement, you may conclude that plugs don't work for you and give up. I think that might be wrong.

I plan to keep going up in size until they're too big to go in or I see no improvement with the biggest size.

That's my take on plugs and puncta size...

Good luck.

[Nanerpus]

Thanks for your information!

Just wondering, do the 3 month dissolvable ones really last that long? I'm REALLY wanting to try these but my eye doc said the dissolvable ones were "worthless" becaues they don't last long, but I don't know if he meant the 1 week ones or the several month ones.

He said the plastic ones were the way to go. I'm worried and thinking I'm going to push for at least starting with the dissolvable ones and see what happens.

Thanks again! Good to know about making sure not to give up if I don't see results, might be a sizing problem.

[Guest]

From what I understand, the temporary dissolving plugs don't do a good job of predicting how well the permanent ones will help you... I believe the reasoning is that the temporary plugs don't necessarily end up blocking 100% of the puncta.

If you go with the permanent plugs that have the caps on them (ie. not the intracanicular type), they can be removed if you don't like them... but at least that way, if properly fitted, I believe you'll have 100% blockage of the puncta.

[spmcc]

RE: dissolvable plugs

I've had 10-day dissolvables (don't know the size) and 3-month dissolvables (for some sizes, see above).

The 10-day dissolvables gave me relief for 3-4 days (it takes a few days for the effects to kick in (that's what I was told here and that's what happened to me)) and then they were gone! It's such a short time... such a tease. So I'm not going to bother with them again.

When I got 3-month dissolvables the first time, the cornea specialist told me that research showed that they lasted longer than 3 months. Since I haven't really had any noticable improvement with them (have had 4 pairs), I can't corroborate that statement.

I like dissolvable plugs (or at least I'm sticking with dissolvable plugs for right now... that may change!) because I can't stand the end of the permanent/silicone plug rubbing my eyeball. It's just annoying to me and makes me worry about what it's doing long-term.

Good luck with your choice!

[spmcc]

Re: plugs

I also wanted to mention that for the last two pairs of 3-month dissolvable plugs, I've had a wonderful optometrist put them in. This woman works with the ophthalmologists at a local lasik place (fyi I've never had lasik... I just use them for plugs!)

She asked if she could do it without anesthetic drops and I was thrilled! I always have a worse eye day after those drops. Plus, she said, the anesthesia doesn't go up into the puncta, so it wouldn't help anyway!

She dilated my upper puncta and put in the plugs and the most I felt was something like a little feather tickling my lids! Seriously!

The above is for anyone who is anxious about the experience of getting plugs. It's true that some doctors can kinda maul your puncta. But others will lightly tickle your lids. It can happen!

[Nanerpus]

Thanks for all the help guys! I saw my eye doc yesterday and I'm still dealing with some severe allergy symptoms in my eyes and he fears putting the plugs in will keep the allergens in as well, so we didn't do them. In the meanwhile I'm on Pataday and chilled PF drops and going to allergy testing. I'm miserable. My eyes are SO bloodshot and stingy/itchy.

BUT we did say that the plugs are the next step and I"m happy for your responses. Thanks again!