gonna try punctual plugs

[152genielane]

I've had DES since puberty, probably something to do with secretion of too much oil in the eyelids, causing MGD and blepharitis. I've tried everything over the years, I'm now 40yrs old. I'm finding out EVERY health issue gets worse as you get older. I do all the daily routine stuff, take Doxy and Omega 3 every day, lid scrubs, everything. have never had punctual plugs, but gonna try that now as everything else only has limited success. if anyone else has a success story with punctual plugs I'd love to hear. would also like to hear if someone thinks they are a bad idea.

[alisonW]

Both of my lower tear ducts have been plugged for a few years now and think they do help a bit. The main advice I have is to make sure they feel comfortable. My doc had to try 3 or 4 different kinds before we found ones that did not rub on/poke/or irritate my eyes. They are several different brands, and many sizes to choose from. After a few days you shouldn't be able to feel them in your eyes at all. Good luck - I hope they give you some relief.

[152genielane]

thanks for the advice, I'm looking forward to getting them and see how they work. do you have any problems with them coming out from time to time?

[alisonW]

No, mine have never come out.

[Brooke]

An eye doctor once mentioned that the lacrimal glands adjust to plugs over time and decrease tear production in response. He said the net result may be greater than the baseline, but he didn't know if the glands increase production back up to their baseline level if and when plugs are subsequently removed.

Has anyone noticed whether the eyes are worse off than before when plugs are removed? Or do the eyes feel the same as they did prior to the plugs?

[alisonW]

Brooke - none of the doctors or corneal specialists I've seen have never mentioned that to me. My eyes are definitely not drier then before the plugs and I'm also not going to have them removed to see if the baseline has changed. I think that would be rather subjective anyway.

[Gaye]

Plugs

I had great success with plugs but they didn't stay in, so I finally opted for cauterization. Though the procedure was a little uncomfortable, the general outcome has been really good and I'm glad I did it.

[152genielane]

gaye, would you say that your main problem before the plugs was lack of tear production, or tear evaporation from MGD? so glad you found a successful treatment!!

[rukapuka]

go for it!

I don't think there's something I did for my eyes as good as the plugs! I remember before putting on the plugs I used to have tons of corneal erosions and never really felt that my eyes were tearing, after putting them I began to feel that tearing and the series of painful erosions disappeared..
And no they never really came out of the punctums, the doctor instructed me that I shouldn't put eye gels/liquigels for a couple of days so that it stays in the eye..
I'm sure you won't regret trying them out!

[152genielane]

I never got them... doctor wanted to put me on Azasite first, said the plugs might just trap bacteria, etc in the eye. been on the Azasite for couple days and doing much better. I feel like a witch-doctor with all these attempted remedies! glad you have good plugs that work, that's great!!