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HI all,
Quick recap: David Crystal put in upper SmartPlugs, NHS put in lower SmartPlugs (just recently). My left eye is transformed, tears just nicely, but not to the point of running down my cheek or anything.
My right eye is continually sore and dry and as it ever was, and really, really frustrating!!!
SO, I went to get a check up and progress evaluation from David.
He examined my left eye first and commented that it was in very fine condition, a good unbroken tear film, a wonderful eye by all accounts.
My right eye wasn't so good (no surprise there then!), so after much talk we decided that the bottom SmartPlug had to go and be replaced with a Form Fit plug which occludes much much better than a lower SmartPlug will. The note here is that SmartPlugs fitted to the lower punctum do not occlude 100% and are subject to dissappearing.
So, the procedure is to flush out the old plug before fitting the new one. David said that as he begins to flush out the plug he should feel a back pressure and then a sudden release as the plug is dislodged and ends up down my throat. However, there was absolutely no back-pressure whatsoever.....David saying the SmartPlug in the puntum is long gone! He says SmartPlugs are not really suitable for lower puntums anyway.....and wondered why the NHS had opted to use them instead of form fit plugs in the first place!
So, we go to fit a form fit plug (I think it said OASIS on the packaging) but there's a problem with the dispenser so David has to try a 2nd plug/dispenser.
30 mins later however on the way home I felt something on my eyelid.....brushed it with my finger and it looks like the form fit plug is out! I emailed David and he reckons the first plug, or at least part of it is in-place (he thought it was lost when the tool broke) and when it eventually expanded it pushed out the 2nd plug.
So, right now I don't know if I'm occluded or whether there is in-fact no plug.....I've to sit it out a week or so and see if I tear any more in that eye, if not I'll go back for another go.
So, here I am nearly 2 years since I was first diagnosed and got my first plugs fitted and still I am attending procedures.....the message here to newbies is that it DOES take time, and there IS hope and light at the end of the tunnel. It is a very frustrating condition.
Ian.
Quick recap: David Crystal put in upper SmartPlugs, NHS put in lower SmartPlugs (just recently). My left eye is transformed, tears just nicely, but not to the point of running down my cheek or anything.
My right eye is continually sore and dry and as it ever was, and really, really frustrating!!!
SO, I went to get a check up and progress evaluation from David.
He examined my left eye first and commented that it was in very fine condition, a good unbroken tear film, a wonderful eye by all accounts.
My right eye wasn't so good (no surprise there then!), so after much talk we decided that the bottom SmartPlug had to go and be replaced with a Form Fit plug which occludes much much better than a lower SmartPlug will. The note here is that SmartPlugs fitted to the lower punctum do not occlude 100% and are subject to dissappearing.
So, the procedure is to flush out the old plug before fitting the new one. David said that as he begins to flush out the plug he should feel a back pressure and then a sudden release as the plug is dislodged and ends up down my throat. However, there was absolutely no back-pressure whatsoever.....David saying the SmartPlug in the puntum is long gone! He says SmartPlugs are not really suitable for lower puntums anyway.....and wondered why the NHS had opted to use them instead of form fit plugs in the first place!
So, we go to fit a form fit plug (I think it said OASIS on the packaging) but there's a problem with the dispenser so David has to try a 2nd plug/dispenser.
30 mins later however on the way home I felt something on my eyelid.....brushed it with my finger and it looks like the form fit plug is out! I emailed David and he reckons the first plug, or at least part of it is in-place (he thought it was lost when the tool broke) and when it eventually expanded it pushed out the 2nd plug.
So, right now I don't know if I'm occluded or whether there is in-fact no plug.....I've to sit it out a week or so and see if I tear any more in that eye, if not I'll go back for another go.
So, here I am nearly 2 years since I was first diagnosed and got my first plugs fitted and still I am attending procedures.....the message here to newbies is that it DOES take time, and there IS hope and light at the end of the tunnel. It is a very frustrating condition.
Ian.
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