Plugs: how do they "irrigate them out?"

[calli66]

At my appointment last week with my retina doctor, she once again asked me why I haven't gotten plugs. My answer was that the temporary collagen plugs the cornea doctor put in (tried twice) didn't seem to do much, and he had charged me $295 USDollars per eye.

She offered to insert plugs just for the cost of the plug, so now I am seriously considering a plug for my left eye. She mentioned "Oasis." But if it has to be removed, what is the procedure? Does it get forced out with the saline-- into the main lower duct and into the nasal passages?

And Dr. G, you have recommended the Parasol from Odyssey. Does the head of that plug stick up and interfere with contact lens-wearing?

Thanks,

C66

[DrG]

Calli,

Oasis make the Formfit intracanalicular plug, as well as the silicone punctal plug. The former is inside the canal, and must be irrigated out with saline. The other has a flange that retains the plug within the punctum, and can be removed with forceps.

The Odyssey Parasol plug is also a punctal plug, and can be removed with forceps. I like it because it is a very soft silicone. Whether the top of the plug becomes an irritant, i.e. rubs the conjunctiva, is dependent upon individual eye anatomy. In my experience, this happens about 1 in 10 patients or so. In cases of rubbing, the area affected most often is the conjunctiva in the inner corner of the eye.