Punctal Plugs For Dry Eyes

What are Punctal Plugs?

Punctal plugs for dry eyes are devices which are placed in the tear ducts and prevent the draining of moisture from your eyes. They can be either temporary and made from collagen or more permanent, in which case they are silicone based. 

In the first instance, your doctor will try collagen based punctal plugs to gauge how effective they are for your case. If they work well, you can be fitted with silicone punctal plugs as a more permanent solution. 

Both temporary and permanent punctal plugs are perfectly safe. They work for many people, relieving the symptoms of dry eyes, although results can vary in different patients. Side effects are very rare, but take care not to rub your eyes excessively as it may dislodge the plugs.

Benefits of Punctal Plug Treatment

So, how do punctal plugs help dry eyes? Your doctor may decide that this treatment could be beneficial if other approaches, such as artificial tears, haven’t produced the results you wanted. 

If you suffer from dry eye, punctal plugs can help to retain the tears that coat your eyes and would otherwise drain away. Temporary punctal plugs made from collagen can determine if the treatment is suitable before committing to the permanent, silicone punctal plugs. 

It is a fast and painless procedure that we can perform at our locations in Kennesaw and East Cobb, close to Marietta and just north of Atlanta, Georgia. 

Your eyes will be numbed with drops and there are no injections involved. Many patients report benefits almost immediately, while for others it can take a while to see a noticeable difference.

Punctal Plugs vs. Our Other Dry Eye Treatments

Punctal plugs for dry eye treatment may be used if other therapies such as artificial tears have not helped. Rather than supplementing moisture in the eye, the plugs provide a physical barrier, stopping the tears from draining. This keeps the eyes lubricated and relieves the irritation associated with dry eyes.  

Punctal plugs dry eye therapy can be used in conjunction with eye drops to improve the effectiveness of both remedies and relieve your symptoms. 

This treatment is aimed at those who suffer from dry eyes caused by a lack of sufficient moisture on the surface of the eye. Other conditions such as meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) may require a different therapy.