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Eye Care (Expert Forum)
Intracanalicular upper plug didn't work
Answered by
Sandy Feldman, MD, MS - Ophthalmology, Refractive Surgery, Cataract Surgery, Corneal surgery
ClearView Eye & Laser Medical Center, A P.C.
San Diego - CA
Our Ask A Doctor Ophthalmology Forum is where you can post your question and receive a personal answer from physicians affiliated with the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Intracanalicular upper plug didn't work
by daisyma, Jun 29, 2008 10:43PM
About a week and a half ago my eye doctor put an intracanalicular plug in my upper tear duct of my right eye. This was the kind that is suppose to conform to fit. I have had the other kind of plug three times (that has a cap and sits on top), but it kept falling out. My lower tear duct is cauterized. I've never had this kind of plug before. I have not felt any results from this plug at all ... no build up of tears like I had with the other type of plug. My eye still feels the same as it did before he put it in as if I had no plug at all and it is very dry and aches badly. I think the dryness is getting worse. I can bearly endure this, using lubricating drops about every 15 min and waking up during the night to put drops in. I also use glaucoma drops (azopt) and I noticed a few minutes after I put azopt in the right eye, I get a hint of taste of it. I don't think this plug is in there at all, but the doctor said it can't fall out. My question is if this plug doesn't fall out, can it flush on through by itself? Or could it have been a defective plug and didn't conform to fit? I never felt any result of a plug from the first day he put it in. I have this severe dry eye condition only in my right eye.
Doctor's Answer
by Sandy Feldman, MD, MS, Jun 30, 2008 10:42AM
, Jun 30, 2008 10:42AMTo: daisyma
Dear daisyma,
It is always possible for a plug to dislodge. You might want to consult your eyeMD to have him/her check the patency of your outflow path. It is also possible you might need plugs in the superior as well as inferior tear ducts. Some other options include oral omega 3’s, eye lubricating ointments, and Restasis. Watch out for preservatives in drops as these can worsen the feeling of dryness.
Dr. Feldman
Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California
It is always possible for a plug to dislodge. You might want to consult your eyeMD to have him/her check the patency of your outflow path. It is also possible you might need plugs in the superior as well as inferior tear ducts. Some other options include oral omega 3’s, eye lubricating ointments, and Restasis. Watch out for preservatives in drops as these can worsen the feeling of dryness.
Dr. Feldman
Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California
