Dryness/Eye redness/plugs and restasis

I used to be an addict user of vasoconstrictors for about 3 years, but have been off them for almost 2.5 months now and my eyes are still red. I went to an eye doctor a few days ago and he gave me a tear time break up test. My results were only 2 seconds when normal break up time is around 7 seconds. Does the fact that my eyes are indeed dry have any effect on the persistent redness that I still have? My doctor gave me temporary lower punctal plugs, but they fell out after a few hours. I could feel the plugs poking my eyes when I looked side to side. Does this mean they were properly inserted all the way? They didnt really seem to have much of an effect on dryness for me, but im going back today to get them put back in just to make sure. I was also prescribed Restasis. Do these treatments seem reasonable for my dryness and redness problem? Does my doctors estimation of the redness because caused solely by dryness sound correct even though I told him I used vasoconstrictors for a few years on a regular basis?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The vasoconstrictors are no longer an issue. Restasis is the treatment of choice for dry eyes and it takes 3 months to start working and it gets better and better for up to 6 months.

Some eyes are hard to fit with plugs.

One final word. If this was not a MD eye physician ophthalmologist you saw and it was an optometrist then I would not believe a word and would go to see an Eye MD. Find one at www.aao.org

JCH MD

[bryan9182]

How come you say wouldnt believe him? I have plugs in right now (temporary ones obv.) and they work OK. No real drastick change so far but i've had them in for less than 24 hours. I am staying on the restasis because I know for a fact dryness can cause the eyes to become red and I feel thats one of the major problems of my redness. Do you know of any websites where I can find a local ophthalmologist that takes my insurance?

[bryan9182]

oops sorry, didnt even see that u listed one already :X

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[bryan9182]

Restasis honestly takes a full 3 months of use to get any benefit out of it? thats stupid.

I had a tear break up time of only 2 seconds, can something like that be enough to cause persistent eye redness? The plugs dont really make that big of a difference for me to consider permanent ones.

[bryan9182]

also, if my case of constant eye redness is caused by dryness and not my overuse of vasoconscrictors then how come when I use artificial tears the redness doesnt go away completely? it dims the redness a little bit....but the red veins in my eyes are still very visible after using artificial tears.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[bryan9182]

what does - mean lol.......

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

It means I don't need to comment further and that I've read the conversation thread to that point.

JCH MD