Punctum

What are the symptoms of dry eyes?
If someone has dry eyes, they may also experience some of the following symptoms:

• A feeling of pain
• Eye fatigue
• Eye discomfort
• The eye may feel burning
• Blurry vision
• Itchy eyes
• Redness of the eyes, and in some cases, the eyes may feel heavy
• Sensitivity to light (photophobia)

Eye doctors will prescribe several treatment methods for dry eyes, but if these treatments are ineffective, they may recommend punctal plugs (lacrimal plugs). An eye surgeon places the plug inside the tear duct hole. This hole is where our tears flow toward the back of our nose and throat. The function of the plugs is to prevent tears from draining, keeping your eyes moist and lubricated.

Complications and risks of inserting punctal plugs
In most cases, inserting punctal plugs does not cause any serious complications. However, some rare side effects may occur:

• The plug may shift from its correct position. This can happen if the patient rubs their eyes, causing pressure that moves the plug. In this case, your doctor can resolve the issue.
• In some cases, an eye infection may occur, though it is rare.
• Your eyes may react to the plugs, which can cause sensitivity, swelling, and redness.
• The patient may experience excessive tearing (increased tearing after inserting the plug can be normal. It’s better to discuss this with your eye doctor).

Treatment for dry eyes depends on the underlying cause. Therefore, the doctor must first determine whether there is an underlying condition. If there is an underlying disease, it should be treated. Also, if a medication used for treating another illness causes dry eyes, your doctor may change the medication.

If contact lenses are causing your dry eyes, your eye doctor may recommend using a different type of lens or reducing the hours of lens use. An eye doctor may also solve the dry eye problem by closing the tear drainage ducts at the inner corners of the eyelids, which sends tears into the nose.

“Lacrimal plugs” or “punctal plugs” are delicate devices temporarily or permanently placed in the tear duct opening. In some cases, “punctal cauterization” (burning the tear drainage opening with a cautery) is recommended, which permanently closes the tear drainage ducts.

Punctal Plugs
Punctal plugs (punctal devices) are small devices used to treat dry eyes. These plugs are also known as lacrimal plugs or punctal plugs. The punctal plug is about the size of a grain of rice. If the problem is not resolved with eye drops, these plugs are usually recommended by the doctor. Closing the punctum of the tear duct is an effective treatment method. This procedure is approved by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) both clinically and in terms of safety, and it provides comfort to the patient with minimal serious side effects. There are three main types of plugs for closing the tear duct: collagen plugs, silicon punctal plugs, and the third type, canalicular plugs.

There are two types of tear duct plugs:

• Absorbable: made from special materials that the body can absorb, such as collagen.
• Semi-permanent: made from materials that can remain for a long time, such as silicon.
  Experts say: inserting punctal plugs is an outpatient procedure. The surgeon uses anesthesia during the procedure. They use a special tool to place the plugs in the desired area. You will not feel either the plug or pain. This surgery does not take much time.

Punctal Cauterization
If punctal plugs do not solve the dry eye problem, the doctor may use punctal cauterization. In this procedure, the doctor first numbs your eye, then places a cautery tip in your tear duct and burns it to close the area. This prevents tears from draining from the eye. This procedure is also called cauterizing the tear duct.

(Wishing you a speedy recovery)
Farvardin Specialized Surgery Center