A cauthery would be 'irreversible' and if you improved you might be left with a teary eye. I do not like and do not use tear duct plugs that are completely inside the eyelid/lacrimal tubing system. I have seen several complications from other eye doctors using these plugs. I will not refer to them by name for liability reasons. I use a plug that has a 'cap' on it that is easy to grasp and remove if trouble develops.
I would only use cautery on all four tear duct openings (puncta) in an eye that was getting scarring and structural damage.
My thoughts would be a easily removable plug and perhaps a trial of Restasis.
JCH MD Ophthalmologist Eye MD
What do you think of the hydrogel long term plugs (3yrs)? They sound more comfortable and can be flused out with saline.
My vision is good but the nodule has days it bothers me.
Unfortunately, I did not know dry eyes could grow nodules. I didn't think I needed eye drops until too late.
What do you think of the hydrogel long term plugs (3yrs)? They sound more comfortable and can be flused out with saline.
Answer: I just finished referring one of those to my favorite oculo-plastic surgeon for surgical excision of one of these plugs. I didn't put the plug in and when it cause a severe inflammatory reaction the "eye doctor" that put them in could not flush them out the lacrimal duct into the nose.
I ONLY use plugs with caps that are removed by simply grasping with a fine pointed forceps. I have not had any serious problem. Of course it's possible for them to come out, this especially seems to happen when washclothes are used to clean the inner part of the eye. I have my patients not do that.
Question: Can you GENTLY press on an eyelid on top of a nodule on the pupil to eventually flatten it? Is there anything I can do besides surgery?
My vision is good but the nodule has days it bothers me.
Unfortunately, I did not know dry eyes could grow nodules. I didn't think I needed eye drops until too late.
Answer: The pupil is a "hole" in the iris. Is the lesion you describe inside the eye? If so it needs to be checked by an Eye MD (Ophthalmologist). If it's on the eyelid, no you cannot flatten a "nodule". If it's in the eyelid it could be a blocked oil gland (Chalazion), or a tumor. You really should have it looked at to establish a diagnosis and then develop a treatment plan.
JCH MD Fellow American College of Surgeons