I can easily see my bottom plugs but can't see my upper plugs

[Gretchen]

Good for you

I live in SF but with traffic, it usually takes me an hour. But like I said, so worth it.

He is knowledgable, open, listens and actually answers your questions with utter respect.

He recently indulged my request to be tested for demodex (I have bleph and MGD). He set up an appt with a derm, went to the other Drs office where they co-cultured me because he wanted someone with a high powered enough microscope and derm expertise..no luck but what other Dr would do that? While I was in with the Derm, she said to me "Dr Gagnon really wants to help you" and I said "yes, he is a wonderful Dr" to which she replied "yes, he is a very caring person".

I now could go into my appt's with other Dr's that resulted in erroneous diagnoses (one resident at Stanford breezily informed me that I probably have Sjogren's. I don't have Sjogren's), being brushed off and told that my eyes were fine and I needed a psych. Unfortunately, my experience seems to be the norm on this site. So good doctors are difficult to find but so very important to us getting better. I wish you the best of luck.

Gretchen

[bvendig]

dr gagnon

Thanks so much for the recommendation.
i just made an appt with him in livermore (about 1 1/2 hours from me)
where do you live???
i'm in Rocklin (about 20 miles east of Sacramento)
Hugs, Betty

I too would recommend Dr Gagnon. Both Stanford eye clinic and UCSF failed me before I found him. I drive about an hour to the Pleasonton office but it is worth it.

Gretchen

[Gretchen]

Dr Gagnon is the best

I too would recommend Dr Gagnon. Both Stanford eye clinic and UCSF failed me before I found him. I drive about an hour to the Pleasonton office but it is worth it.

Gretchen

[bernmee]

Hi,

I am seeing a wonderful Dr. called Dr. Gagnon who is in Pleasanton and Livermore. A drive, I know, but so worth it to find someone you can trust. Rebecca recommended him to me and he is now listed on this site under the plug a Dr. section.

Bernadette

[bvendig]

does anyone know of doc in sacramento area

Hi Bernadette
i'm in the sacramento area..how about you?
if you know of a doctor, i'd love his name.
thanks!
betty

What part of CA are you in. There a couple of us on this site from CA with wonderful Dr.'s.

Bernadette

[bvendig]

Overflow

Thanks so much...i'll try that!
I live in the sacramento area and if you know of a doctor i'd love to hear about it. i've gone to 3 different ones..none were a huge help and all act like i'm a nuisance because i keep asking questions.
thanks!!
betty

When I had overflow with 4 plugs, I found that putting in eye drops stopped it. That is because mine was due to reflex tearing. You have a few options:

1. Try adding more drops to see if that temporarily stops the overflow. If not,

2. Remove either the upper or lower plugs

3. Replace the upper or lower plugs with a flow controller type plug

Indrep may have more to suggest.

[bernmee]

What part of CA are you in. There a couple of us on this site from CA with wonderful Dr.'s.

Bernadette

[bvendig]

overflow from 4 plugs

thank you kitty!!
i'll try that and also check in again with my doc.
i just hate going to see him. he always acts like i'm such a nuisance...
(and yes, i've tried other doctors but they all seem to act like that)
thanks again!!!!
betty

When I had overflow with 4 plugs, I found that putting in eye drops stopped it. That is because mine was due to reflex tearing. You have a few options:

1. Try adding more drops to see if that temporarily stops the overflow. If not,

2. Remove either the upper or lower plugs

3. Replace the upper or lower plugs with a flow controller type plug

Indrep may have more to suggest.

[kitty]

hi all
i'm just wondering if others have this issue.
i now have 4 punctal plugs. this helps me a lot with dry eye because mine are very dry (shirmer left eye = 1 , right eye = 2) and having only 2 plugs didn't help me at all.

so...now my only problem is that my eyelids are always a little sore because the tears leak out a little. i find that if i dab them with kleenex..that only makes them more irritated and i wondered if anyone else might have had this issue and if so, did you find any kind of solution to the problem??

thanks so much!!
betty

When I had overflow with 4 plugs, I found that putting in eye drops stopped it. That is because mine was due to reflex tearing. You have a few options:

1. Try adding more drops to see if that temporarily stops the overflow. If not,

2. Remove either the upper or lower plugs

3. Replace the upper or lower plugs with a flow controller type plug

Indrep may have more to suggest.

[bvendig]

plugs & eyelids

hi all
i'm just wondering if others have this issue.
i now have 4 punctal plugs. this helps me a lot with dry eye because mine are very dry (shirmer left eye = 1 , right eye = 2) and having only 2 plugs didn't help me at all.

so...now my only problem is that my eyelids are always a little sore because the tears leak out a little. i find that if i dab them with kleenex..that only makes them more irritated and i wondered if anyone else might have had this issue and if so, did you find any kind of solution to the problem??

thanks so much!!
betty

[bvendig]

seeing punctal plugs

HI ..
i've had them in lower for about 3 months (can easily see them)
and in the upper for about 1 month (cannot see them)
so..i think it might be that it's just easier to see the lower ones.
on the other hand, i think i can "feel" the upper ones when i look to the right.
Betty

hey guys! i have had lower plugs for a month now and can easily see them in a mirror. i just got upper plugs today and can not see them in a mirror, even in a well light room when i lift my eyelid. does anyone else have trouble locating the upper plugs. i can easily see the lower plugs though. how can i know all 4 plugs are in?
thanks so much!

[vicki1778]

I didn't want to have the uppers put in because I was sure that I would have an over-abundance of tears and would be dabbing at my eyes all the time with Kleenex. I am always surprised at the number of people on these boards who know every medical term, the names of the plugs, etc. I do take charge of my health issues -- I learned that long ago. However, my doctor doesn't tell me much unless, as I mentioned before, I drag it out of him. Pulling teeth!

[kitty]

I didn't say I could see the punctal plugs -- however, the ones I have now I can see the plugs. I think they are mushroom shaped. My eye doctor is a very fine doctor, but I think he is a little too "laid back," meaning I feel that I have to drag things out of him!

It sounds like you have the surface-type plug. Sometimes the uppers are harder to see because of the way your lid is shaped, or you might need to try using a magnifying mirror. If in doubt as to whether or not the uppers are still there, ask your eye doctor to check. I think many of us have similar issues with all doctors in general. We expect them to offer information. Rather, we need to take responsibility to ask questions, as many as it takes to gain a full understanding of the cause of our problems, the recommended treatment plans and the risks associated with those treatment plans.

[vicki1778]

I didn't say I could see the punctal plugs -- however, the ones I have now I can see the plugs. I think they are mushroom shaped. My eye doctor is a very fine doctor, but I think he is a little too "laid back," meaning I feel that I have to drag things out of him!

[kitty]

I didn't know there were names like surface or intracanicular. Mine are just inserted into the lower tear ducts. Sometimes they last a very long time and other times one or both might pop out. The ones I have now have been in for quite a long time -- maybe a year or so.

All plugs are inserted into the tear ducts (puncta). When you say you could see the plugs, were you seeing the cap or something sitting on top of the eye lid or were you seeing a shadow outline of something inside the eye lid?