how do you feel when you have permanent silicone umbrella plugs?

[chella21279]

Hi Chella,
Thanks for your reply. Mine are permanent plugs with cap. Think I need time to adjust to them.
With your plugs for a week, have you reduced on the use of OTC tear drops?

Yes, most definitely. I remember the day before I got the plugs inserted..I could barely see (constant blinking with terribly irritated eyes). The next day I got the plugs inserted and eyes were a lot better. However, I can't say they're taking away all of my misery. I can still feel the dryness and irritation, just not as bad.

With that said, after reading about all the horror stories regarding smart plugs, I will ask to have them removed during my next doctors visit. A few of my friends have been using restasis and told me it works really well so I will definitely give that a shot (hoping I can bare the massive burning).

Good luck with the plugs. It's definitely not for everyone. I not only have evaporative dry eye...I am also not producing enough tears..so plugs aren't really helping much

[tealeaf]

I too had plugs like yours with a cap. They were weird. I could feel them. However, after a few weeks, I just got used to them and they did not bother me anymore. Then, they fell out and I did not even know they fell out.

Runnergirl, the initial weeks of getting used to the plugs, were your eyes around the cap slightly red and itchy?

Maybe I will try these smart plugs.

It is advisable in this forum to use the most conventional permanent silicone plugs with cap as they have the lowest risk. If they are not suitable, can have them removed. Smart plugs have reported complications.

[spmcc]

OMG please read about smart plugs before you get them... you can search DEZ using the term "medennium" (they are the makers of SmartPlugs)

Also, here's a paper from 2011: http://www.revophth.com/content/c/27348/

[runnergirl]

Hi Tealeaf,

I too had plugs like yours with a cap. They were weird. I could feel them. However, after a few weeks, I just got used to them and they did not bother me anymore. Then, they fell out and I did not even know they fell out. So I did not replace them. Maybe I will try these smart plugs.

[tealeaf]

Hi Chella,
Thanks for your reply. Mine are permanent plugs with cap. Think I need time to adjust to them.
With your plugs for a week, have you reduced on the use of OTC tear drops?

[chella21279]

I have had permanent plugs for about week. They're called smart plugs, which I don't believe have caps. Once they adjust to my body temp it adjusts itself. They're not doing a whole lot but definitely not drying my eyes out more.

[tealeaf]

Dear all,

The previous 1 month, I used temporary dissolvable plugs in lower tear ducts and could feel some improvement in my eyes. As the plugs keep dissolving, I have proceeded to put in permanent silicone plug with cap yesterday.

Question here is that I feel my eyes drier than before the plugs ... is it still early days? When I had temporary plugs, within 24 hours, I felt my eyes more comfortable (though not a lot but I could feel some improvement), but with this permanent ones, I feel drier and have menthol sensation. Is it because the eyes are still adjusting to the cap (There was abrasion in my eyes yesterday but today, abrasion is much lesser)? Anybody has issue with this? I also feel a bit of itch near the area of tear ducts, it is normal?

My opth. did not measure my tear ducts, she simply put in the smallest plugs (Odyssey Parasol Small - 0.35 to 0.65mm).

Appreciate your kind response. Thanks!