Dry/Red Eyes...Silicone plugs
pau...@ix.netcom.com
Does anyone have info or experience (personal or professional) on the
use of silicone plugs (to block the ducts that drain tears from the
eye) as a treatment for dry/red eyes? How effective is it? I'm
considering having this done....and appreciate any info.
My Opthalmologist says we could also use electro (or laser) cautery to
close up these ducts (this is his preferred method; i'm the one who
suggested the silicone plugs...after reading about them in the Eye Care
Connection Homepage). He says the problem with these cautery methods is
that the ducts often (or usually) open back up. Any experience/info on
this?
Also, i have a bump on my left eye next to the iris (on the nose side).
This causes redness in this region. And my Opthalmologist says it can be
removed. How effective is this? Does it heal up nicely? He says that
sometimes the bump grows back. Any info on what percentage of the time
this treatment is effective? Thanks.
Paul
BIng
> Does anyone have info or experience (personal or professional) on the
>use of silicone plugs (to block the ducts that drain tears from the
>eye) as a treatment for dry/red eyes? How effective is it? I'm
>considering having this done....and appreciate any info.
> My Opthalmologist says we could also use electro (or laser) cautery to
>close up these ducts (this is his preferred method; i'm the one who
>suggested the silicone plugs...after reading about them in the Eye Care
>Connection Homepage). He says the problem with these cautery methods is
>that the ducts often (or usually) open back up. Any experience/info on
>this?
My uncle created this procedure appx 10 years ago. I had it done,
personally and my conditions improved greatly. My uncle used collogen
plugs, (they're designed to disolve after a few days) to test the
procedure before performing a more permanent laser treatment.
You can have the ducts opened somewhat after laser surgery but it was
easier to do the collogen test first. Ask your Opthalmologist if he
can do this. My uncle just retired and sold his collogen implant
company to a large corp. (can't remember who but hopefully your phys.
will know what I'm talking about.)
After the test was successful, we went ahead with the laser.
Everything's fine now, but you may notice some tearing after the laser
procedure (normal).
> Also, i have a bump on my left eye next to the iris (on the nose side).
>This causes redness in this region. And my Opthalmologist says it can be
>removed. How effective is this? Does it heal up nicely? He says that
>sometimes the bump grows back. Any info on what percentage of the time
>this treatment is effective? Thanks.
Can't help much here, but it sounds like a ptgerium (sp.?). Someone
else might know..
> Paul
Paul White
>My uncle created this procedure appx 10 years ago. I had it done,
>personally and my conditions improved greatly. My uncle used collogen
>plugs, (they're designed to disolve after a few days) to test the
>procedure before performing a more permanent laser treatment.
>You can have the ducts opened somewhat after laser surgery but it was
>easier to do the collogen test first. Ask your Opthalmologist if he
>can do this. My uncle just retired and sold his collogen implant
>company to a large corp. (can't remember who but hopefully your phys.
>will know what I'm talking about.)
>After the test was successful, we went ahead with the laser.
>Everything's fine now, but you may notice some tearing after the laser
>procedure (normal).
Thanks very much for the info.
I've heard about the collogen plug (did your uncle create the collogen
plug, or the laser treatment?). For some reason my phys. didn't
suggest using the collogen plugs to see if plugging the ducts would
work.....i guess it's been assumed that it would work....hmmm.
The silicone plug that i referred to is a permanent plug...it doesn't
dissolve. The reason i'm considering the silicone plugs instead of the
laser treatment (LT) is that my phys. says that the ducts often open
back up after the LT -- that the ducts stay closed anywhere from a few
minutes to 6 months. In other words, i gathered (from what he said)
that the effectiveness of the LT in keeping the ducts closed was
unpredictable and maybe even unreliable. I could have interpreted him
wrong....
What's your experience in this regard? Do your ducts open back up, so
that you have to go in and have the LT done again? How long do the
ducts typically remain closed after the LT? Did you have all four
ducts closed, or just the bottom two?
From what you said, it's sounds like you're very satisfied with the
LT. Now i might try that instead of the silicone....
Thanks again, i really appreciate your help!
Paul
Larry Bickford, O.D.
*loved* my plugs! First time I was ever able to wear my soft contacts more
than a few hours!.
We always suggest collegen plugs for diagnostic purposes. A week or two
usually provides good indication of whether obstructing the tear outflow
solves the problem. Then you can move to silicon plugs as a more permenant
fix.
Sealing the puncta with laser or other cautery is a more permenant fix
still. Although it is correct that sometimes the openning reappears, it is
nevertheless an alteration of tissue structure.
Personally, I prefer the silicon plug. Sometimes we discover the dry eye
problem to have a previously unknown underlying cause (Sjorgens,
medications, hormone irregularities and other metabolic errors, even
allergy) and solving that is the best fix. Then out come the plugs and all
is back to "normal".
Larry
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BIng
>bin...@ix.netcom.com (BIng) wrote:
>>My uncle created this procedure appx 10 years ago. I had it done,
>>personally and my conditions improved greatly. My uncle used collogen
>>plugs, (they're designed to disolve after a few days) to test the
>>procedure before performing a more permanent laser treatment.
>>You can have the ducts opened somewhat after laser surgery but it was
>>easier to do the collogen test first. Ask your Opthalmologist if he
>>can do this. My uncle just retired and sold his collogen implant
>>company to a large corp. (can't remember who but hopefully your phys.
>>will know what I'm talking about.)
>>After the test was successful, we went ahead with the laser.
>>Everything's fine now, but you may notice some tearing after the laser
>>procedure (normal).
> Thanks very much for the info.
>I've heard about the collogen plug (did your uncle create the collogen
>plug, or the laser treatment?). For some reason my phys. didn't
>suggest using the collogen plugs to see if plugging the ducts would
>work.....i guess it's been assumed that it would work....hmmm.
I belive he did both. He stumbled upon the treatment by accident,
really. A patient had a lacerated lid once, so he stitched it up.
About a week later, the patient came back and said that his eye no
longer felt gritty/burning any more (he had been diagnosed with dry
eye syndrome). My uncle had stitched the puctum closed when he treated
the laceration, then put 2 and 2 together and voila. He origionally
used a stitch to close the punctum, which later evolved into the
collagen plug. Both were ment to be a temporary solution for testing
only. Occasionally, a patient may have the punctum closed too much
which can cause over-tearing, so he liked to use a collagen plug first
to test. They do come in different sizes, some allowing more tear
drainage then others.
>The silicone plug that i referred to is a permanent plug...it doesn't
>dissolve. The reason i'm considering the silicone plugs instead of the
>laser treatment (LT) is that my phys. says that the ducts often open
>back up after the LT -- that the ducts stay closed anywhere from a few
>minutes to 6 months. In other words, i gathered (from what he said)
>that the effectiveness of the LT in keeping the ducts closed was
>unpredictable and maybe even unreliable. I could have interpreted him
>wrong....
>What's your experience in this regard? Do your ducts open back up, so
>that you have to go in and have the LT done again? How long do the
>ducts typically remain closed after the LT? Did you have all four
>ducts closed, or just the bottom two?
I had all four partially closed, thats important. Unless you have
severe dry eye syndrome, you really dont want to have them completely
closed, which sounds like what the silicone plugs will do. Belive me ,
having excess tears is almost as bad as dry eyes, you're constantly
wiping them.
It is true that there is the possibility that the punctum may open up
somewhat later on, mine did slightly. Mine were closed almost
completely with LT, one eventually had to be opened a bit, (not a big
deal, however it is VERY painful getting shots on your lids. Make sure
that he uses a surface anesthetic on the skin first, it will make it
less painful.)
I wouldn't say that the punctum would only stay closed for a few
minutes, especially if it's done correctly. The argon laser is
supposed to be directed slightly into the duct itself, efectively
melting or shrinking the actual duct. If its only directed on the
surface then it may not be as effective. Cautery is another option ,
however I dont think its as effective. You may ask him about it.
Overall I've been very satisfied with my treatment. For the first two
weeks, If you decide on LT, it may be slightly uncomfortable, but not
very noticeable. I wear extended wear lenses, and they were just
drying my lenses up. After the LT, I was much improved.
FYI My treatment was approx. 7 years ago. Have you been diagnosed with
dry eye and do you wear contact lenses? I know you have a tough
decision ahead, and cost may be a factor. I've been out of the loop
lately on dry eyes , so the silicon plugs are fairly new to me. Hope
some of this helps...
Brian