Getting plugs - what to expect?

[Maria1972]

One way to know if your plug is there or not, is putting eye drops in your eyes. If you need a tissue to dry the excess, most likely you still have the plug. My left eye plug shows, while my right eye plug is inside.
I just remember that before the plugs, I'll put eye drops and wouldn't need a tissue to remove the excess, the drops drained through the wholes...Now I have to have those tissues handy otherwise the drops go all over my face, it looks I'm crying.

[DAVID RUBE]

I'm happy to hear reports of people that have gotten some comfort from closing their punctums. As for me I've got all four closed and still have the normal burning, blurring, etc....blah

[Tridnod]

David...what kind off DES do you have?? I will get my doc to close uppers and lowers on both eyes. Just hope it works this time.

[DAVID RUBE]

Hi Tridnod,

Geez, that's a great question.....what kind of DES do I have. I really don't have a clue. Frankly until I started reading this site I didn't know that there were "kinds". My eye doctor back in the states just told me that my eyes were very dry. Now that I know more I'm going to pursue a better diagnosis and hopefully more helpful therapy options....adios, David

[Rebecca Petris]

Hi Tridnod,

Geez, that's a great question.....what kind of DES do I have. I really don't have a clue. Frankly until I started reading this site I didn't know that there were "kinds". My eye doctor back in the states just told me that my eyes were very dry. Now that I know more I'm going to pursue a better diagnosis and hopefully more helpful therapy options....adios, David

The basic distinctions are between aqueous deficient dry eye (lacrimal glands not producing enough of the watery part of tears) and evaporative dry eye (meibomian glands not producing or not secreting enough oil to keep the tears from evaporating). Many have both.

There are many good sources of information but some of the basic articles on this site are a good place to start, particularly Dry Eye for Dummies, which has links to terminology definitions and subtopics. The FAQ and Encyclopedia sections of the website have lots more information.

[notsofunny]

Why do plugs work in the day and not overnight?

I take TheraTears and I even had lower plugs put in both my eyes on June 4. They help a lot during the day. I haven't had to use eye drops even once. But I still wake up every morning feeling like I slept with sand in my eyes. Does that mean I will have to have the upper plugs, too, or is there some other kind of treatment for dry eyes instead?

[Rebecca Petris]

I take TheraTears and I even had lower plugs put in both my eyes on June 4. They help a lot during the day. I haven't had to use eye drops even once. But I still wake up every morning feeling like I slept with sand in my eyes. Does that mean I will have to have the upper plugs, too, or is there some other kind of treatment for dry eyes instead?

Overnight dryness is often due to failure of the lids to completely seal at night. Many people have overnight dryness but no symptoms during the day. Humidifier in the bedroom may help, but personally I think the most effective treatment is covering your eyes with something at night. Click here for some ideas of products that can help with this. There are also homemade options.

[indrep]

notsofunny

Lid inflammation can be a source of morning pain. You may want to have your eye doc have a look and then start using a lid cleaner to see if that eliminates the problem.

[bassfan]

plugs

Early on in my experience with plugs I found a pretty easy way to tell if mine were still in without having to look. Now I can recognize the surface plugs pretty easily although at first I didn't really know what I was looking at.

I used the eyedrops called "Soothe". They are milky white at first in your eye. There was a significant different in the length that I was looking through the milky white color in my eye with and without plugs. Obviously when I have/had plugs, the white would stay in my vision longer.

Thats my tip of the week!!

[IanJ]

Hi,

I had lowers only.....then uppers & lower flow controllers.....and was still pretty dry. Then I got the lot changed for upper & lower SmartPlugs.......and noticed a big difference.

PS. I've been told that lower SmartPlugs don't totally occlude......some tears will still drain past the SmartPlug.

Ian.