Doctor pushed too hard and entire permanent plug went inside the tear duct!

[Phillips55]

My doctor tried a different shaped permanent plug on me today but it wasn't firmly in place after insertion so he pushed on it some more and it dissapeared inside my tear duct. He asked me if I was ok with it and told me it would be very difficult to remove. I left not thinking much about it but now I'm concerned about it migrating deeper in and I just read how difficult surgical removal be be. I have been through so much crap in the last couple of years with unresolved lasik problems this is the last thing I need right now. Does anyone have any experience with this or suggestions?

[hirentherock]

Gosh!
Thats really weird.
I dnt have any suggestions of anything but u shud go to a nose specialist doc and seek his opinion about future complications due to this chaos.

[DCRdryeye]

Usually an 'external' plug is capped and can't be pushed through into the tear duct. Perhaps it was an intracannicular plug? Are you 100% certain it's been pushed into the tear duct?
You certainly don't want to have a DCR procedure to remove it. I wonder what would happen if it just remains there?

[Tankie]

I wouldn't worry about it too much since they could also push it along the drainage canal with a very thin metal wire until it goes into your nose and then you would sniff it out. Look at this picture:



I will admit I am not 100% sure this will work, but I am about 90% sure. Punctal plugs are TINY TINY TINY. They fit your punctum opening, and they're made of silicone, so if someone were to push it into your drainage cancal it wouldn't likely do much (if any) damage from the rubbing along the walls. I think you're going to be fine. But, with any luck, you won't want to ever remove it, so none of this will matter anyway.

[Tankie]

DCR, question for you. Could you tell me about your DCR operation? I'd be interested to hear your story. Thanks!

[DCRdryeye]

Hey tankie, you can read all about it on my website at: http://www.blockedtearductsurgeryadult.com

[Tankie]

Awesome stuff, you truly are a hero, yes a hero, for making a site like this.

One day soon I would be interested in writing you a long email or perhaps calling you on the phone. I have a few questions about tear drainage, and you might be one of the few people in the world who can actually answer my questions. If we do talk on the phone, I won't be able to call Australia though since I only have a cell phone right now and the bill would be insanely expensive! I hope we can arrange something =)

[DCRdryeye]

Thanks tankie, I'd be happy to chat with you. Skype is the best way and it's free
How are the four plugs going? are you still tearing?

[indrep]

If the plug is sitting just beneath the punctal ring or is visible to the doctor through a dilated punctal ring, a 27 gauge needle can be bent on the very end to create a plug "hook". The doctor then inserts the needle into the plug inserter cylinder and "hooks" the plug and withdraws it.

[jenny2008]

phillip -i had a plug put in after my puncta was dilated--i came home and thought it was loose and pushed myself.. it went all the way in.eventually it came back to surface the andthe puncta grew around it.. i dont think that type of plug can go any further.. see what happens and go back to the doc or dif doc and see what they say. is it bothering u?

[Phillips55]

Perhaps it was an intracannicular plug?
I'm almost 100% it's not as he told me in the past he doesn't like them for the same reason I'm concerned now, that they can get stuck and can be hard to remove. It isn't bothering me right now, although it's hard to tell because I'm always in pain in that area anyway. Thanks for the replies!