How to choose the right doctor for plugs?

[untkicker29]

I want to make sure and choose a doctor that will make sure and size me correctly, and knows everything there is to know about inserting plugs. Are all doctors very knowledgable in this area?

[neil0502]

I want to make sure and choose a doctor that will make sure and size me correctly, and knows everything there is to know about inserting plugs. Are all doctors very knowledgable in this area?

Not necessarily.

Do you live anywhere near a teaching hospital that's affiliated with a good med school? If so, then the ophthalmologists who teach the residents probably get a lot of practice going over the basics. That's a good place to start. You want to ask them who their best dry eye specialist is.

Failing that, the important thing is that the eye doctor use the dilator to slightly enlarge the puncta, inserting an "oversized" plug. That minimizes the likelihood of the plug falling out on its own.

It isn't an unusual, or particularly complex procedure for an eye doc, but the more experience the doc has, the better.

Where are you, geographically? Maybe somebody can point you toward a good doc....

[untkicker29]

I live 30 miles north of Dallas in Denton, Texas. Another question, can the plugs that sit on top of the canal like a parachute cause damage from rubbing against the eye? They seem like the safer ones in the sense that they wont go down the drainage canlas, but I have also heard of them rubbing against peoples eyes.

[neil0502]

I live 30 miles north of Dallas in Denton, Texas.

Just looking around on the Internet (in other words: I don't know these people, so it's not a recommendation, per se -- just a lead), I find:

1) Dry eyes
Ophthalmologists at UT Southwestern Medical Center need people with dry eye disease to participate in a study evaluating the effectiveness of Food and Drug Administration-approved eye drops. Symptoms of the disease include eyes that burn or sting, blurred vision, frequent blinking, a feeling that something is in the eye, light sensitivity or sandy or gritty eyes. Participants will receive free study-related eye exams, tests and medications. Financial compensation is available. For details, call Mike Molai at 214-648-4734.

http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/...es/208574.html

2) EyeMDLink.com is privately funded and supported by founder and president, Chris A. Knobbe, M.D., a general ophthalmologist in private practice in Texas. Dr. Knobbe is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center - Dallas. Dr. Knobbe specializes in general ophthalmology with emphasis in cataract and refractive surgery.

http://www.eyemdlink.com/about.asp

3) http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/findfa...,53988,00.html

Another question, can the plugs that sit on top of the canal like a parachute cause damage from rubbing against the eye? They seem like the safer ones in the sense that they wont go down the drainage canlas, but I have also heard of them rubbing against peoples eyes.

They can irritate some peoples' eyes. You're quite right. That would be something you'd definitely want to speak about with the doctor.

Best,

Neil

[Rebecca Petris]

I live 30 miles north of Dallas in Denton, Texas. Another question, can the plugs that sit on top of the canal like a parachute cause damage from rubbing against the eye? They seem like the safer ones in the sense that they wont go down the drainage canlas, but I have also heard of them rubbing against peoples eyes.

I have experienced that - a plug sticking out and scratching my sclera. Basically it was a little too fat and got squeezed up a bit some time after insertion.

DrG is in Grapevine, by the way. I'd certainly trust him with putting plugs in MY eyes.

[untkicker29]

Is DrG still in practice? I had no idea he lived in the DFW area.

[kurt]

His practice is located in Coppell, north of Beltline on Denton Tap Road.

Dr. Greg Gemoules (the G is soft):

Coppell Family Eyecare
712 S Denton Tap Rd
Coppell, TX 75019
ph. 972-462-7311