3 month plugs

[Helen26]

Does anyone have any experiences of temporary 3 month disolvable plugs? I had these fitted about 6 weeks ago in my lower tear ducts and my eyes have been much better since I had the plugs put in. However, this last week my eyes have been getting extremely dry and sore again and I was just wondering if it was the plugs starting to disolve. I have very low schirmer scores in both eyes so I probably need maximum blockage of my tear ducts. I don't know whether to get 4 plugs fitted next time - does this tend to make much difference?

[np1981]

I don't know whether to get 4 plugs fitted next time - does this tend to make much difference?

I used to have two plugs that made no difference, but having 4 plugs made a huge difference. I went from bone dry to occasional overflowing. But I have to saline rinse each day to wash out the eyes, as there is no natural dranainge with total occlusion.

[kitty]

I am one month in to my 3 month disolvable plugs in my uppers. I have permanent plugs in my lowers. It sounds to me like they could be starting to dissolve, but it would seem a bit premature for that. My doc told me that if a large enough size is not used, then tears can leak out around the plugs. I would suggest you make a follow-up appointment to have the plug size and placement evaluated. It might be that your uppers are now making up the slack drainage-wise for the lowers. Again, discuss uppers with your doc. I did not notice much difference with just the lowers plugged. Adding the uppers made me feel much better.

[Helen26]

Thanks Kitty. I've just made an appointment to see my opthamologist next week so I'll discuss having upper plugs put in. Out of interest, what type of plugs do you have?

[kitty]

Thanks Kitty. I've just made an appointment to see my opthamologist next week so I'll discuss having upper plugs put in. Out of interest, what type of plugs do you have?

All of my plugs are the intracanalicular Herrick plugs.

[shells]

Hi Helen,

I had the 90-day dissolvable ones in my lowers and eventually ended up getting more permanent silicone ones put in. If you did get relief from the dissovlable ones, then maybe you should consider the silicone kind. I think that how long the temporary plugs last depends on the person, atleast that is what my doctor said. So, it is possible that your plugs are starting to dissolve and become less effective. I think that in general, intracannicular plugs block less tears than the silicone kind with the cap on them. The silicone ones are also usually easily removable since your doctor can just pull them out by the cap. You might want to try them just to see if your eyes can tolerate them. Sometimes the cap scratches, which I guess is the main drawback.

Today I just had a 6-month dissolvable Herrick upper plug put in my left eye and my doc said that for some it lasts up to 6 months, and some only 3 months, so it all depends on the person I guess. Good luck, and I hope that you can find the right combination of plugs to get your eyes feeling back to where they were.

-Shells

[Guest]

Temp Plugs

Helen,

I had the Oasis temporary plugs (upto 90 days) and found that after 6-8 weeks things started to get worse also.

I discussed this with my DR and he decided to insert a replacement set, again, things improved with the new plugs. Unfortunately he told me there is no way to check if they are stil there so he just put in another set.

In my opinion 90 days is the maximum period that they last (the website (Oasis) says that they last up to 90 days), so I think that it is highly likely that they dissolve earlier, as I said this is based on my experience with them also.

Take care, best of luck

Ian

[Helen26]

Thanks Ian.

But I'm really confused now! I went back to the hospital last week and saw a different doctor to last time. He said that the plugs I had in were permanent ones not temporary, even though I distinctly remember the nurse bringing through a box saying they only had 3 month ones and the other doctor agreeing. That's the NHS for you! Anyway, I asked if I could have upper plugs fitted as well and the doctor was very reluctant - he said they would just fall out due to gravity (I think he just didn't want to put them in because it was too difficult!) But he finally agreed. For the first couple of days my eyes felt much better, I even had some overspill of tears, however, my eyes feel quite dry again now and I've developed an infection in both eyes - I've been using antibiotic ointment for four days now and no sign of improvement. I suppose with four plugs there's nowhere for any bacteria to be drained away. Has anyone else had experience of this and has any suggestions as to how to prevent infections? Does this mean I now have blepharitis?

I'm just very fed up at the moment. I thought four plugs might help me but they just seem to be making the problem worse. And to confuse matters even further, despite the consultant I saw first saying there was nothing wrong with my tear film, I just wasn't producing enough tears, the one I saw last week said my tear film was breaking up almost instantly and I have MGD!
I just don't trust any of the doctors I've seen on the NHS. I'm due to go and see an optometrist who specialises in the dry eyes in a couple of weeks and I'm hoping he might be able to make some suggestions because I feel like I'm running out of options.

[np1981]

Helen - When Dr Tseng plugged all 4 of my punctum he reccomemned I use a saline rinse upon waking, and once before bed, everyday. This will help to at least wash out mucus etc buliding up.

Try get preservative free saline drops, if you can't find any in shops you can always get your GP to prescribe minims (I got 80 minims (vials) on a £6.65 prescription which works out great).

PS I've given up on NHS doctors, dry eye is really badly understood by doctors here in the UK and NHS doctors will NOT spend the time they need to to get you feeling better. Hope the optometrist helps you.

[SusieD]

I agree with you both.

I see the doctor on the NHS simply because it doesnt cost me anything - but I have to ask myself what have I gained? I have also had different opinions from every doc Ive seen (and I havent see loads - 3 in total) that just dont add up.

When the last doctor pushed my silicone plug in recently - another tried to tell me that it would dissolve eventually anyway! These are the people Im trusting with my eyes - its a bit scary really. Its silicone, its not going to dissolve for crying out loud. Granted - I have had plugs free of charge through the NHS but because most of them dont seem to have much knowledge about the different types - I have also had problems with virtually all of them. I would rather pay to have someone who is familiar and knows what they are doing deal with them - gives you peace of mind too.

I think I will go to go to an optometrist such as Andrew Matheson for ongoing care with my eyes. Sure it will cost more but the docs on the NHS have frustrated the hell out of me so far.

I am so grateful for this site because I have learnt so much about my eyes. I would have probably let myself be fobbed off with incorrect information beforehand. Since finding this site and as a result becoming more aware of things, I stand up for myself a lot more. The docs dont like it but thats tough - theyre my eyes and I'll do what I have to do.

[sazy123]

I'm just very fed up at the moment. I thought four plugs might help me but they just seem to be making the problem worse. And to confuse matters even further, despite the consultant I saw first saying there was nothing wrong with my tear film, I just wasn't producing enough tears, the one I saw last week said my tear film was breaking up almost instantly and I have MGD!

Its ridiculus isnt it! whats the point in even going to see anyone if you get told different things everytime.
I dont trust the doctors on the NHS either. One of them told me that i didnt have plugs in allready coz he couldnt see them, i said they were smart plugs and you cant see them, he disagreed with me still saying he couldnt see them so i must not have plugs in. And another one told me not to use hot compresses becuase it will make tears evaporate when i said i use them on my eyes for relief. Also said something incorrect about plugs being permanent, cant remmenber now, but the optometrist who fitted them said the opposite!

[Rebecca Petris]

he disagreed with me still saying he couldnt see them so i must not have plugs in.

That is really very disturbing! Surely he ought at least to have heard of intracanalicular plugs. A patient who wasn't as well educated about it as you could find themselves badly injured if they got re-plugged by someone this ignorant.

[SusieD]

I have been given very incorrect information about plugs from doctors too. They seem happy to shove them in without knowing all that much about them in some cases.

This is why I say I am grateful for this site - at least if you know what is correct and how things should be, you can protect yourself.

[np1981]

Its silicone, its not going to dissolve for crying out loud.

Strange - I've been told that too. I wonder if there is something in their guidelines that states that Silicone plugs are dissolvable?? I didn't think much of that particular doctor so I didn't bother getting into an argument about it, I wasn't planning to see him again anyway so I just let it be. This was the guy that said that it was not possible for plugs to be put in the upper punctum. I thought it was because he didn't have the right type. I think he just didn't have a flipping clue what he was talking about. This guy wasn't a Consultant but a Registrar, but still, what a pillock!

[Helen26]

Susie - I've got an appointment with Andrew Matheson 2 weeks tomorrow so I'll let you know how I get on. I've spoken to him and e-mailed him a couple of times and he seems to know much more than any "pillock" I've come across on the NHS. He's not actually that expensive - £50 for an appointment, although my train fare from Preston is going to cost me £80 (don't think my eyes would withstand 8 hours of driving in a day!). I'm not expecting any miracles from him just someone who knows what they are talking about. Perhaps he'll be able to tell me whether my plugs will dissolve or not!!