# So my eye doc wants to give me "punctal plugs" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 6, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-eye-doc-wants-to-give-me-punctal-plugs/964083 "2022-05-06T19:50:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-eye-doc-wants-to-give-me-punctal-plugs/964083/1 "2022-05-06T19:50:05Z")
They’re little teeny plugs that they stick in your tear-draining ducts so they don’t drain tears away from your eyes. They’re for people with dry eye, like me. But my insurance has now nixed my Xiidra (tear-producting medication) prescription, nor will they ante up for some anti-inflammatory eye drops, either. Plugs don’t sound at all pleasant. It sounds very uncomfortable, if not downright painful. Anyone else have punctal plugs? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-eye-doc-wants-to-give-me-punctal-plugs/964083/2 "2022-05-06T22:55:27Z")
My roomie does and she adores them. I am asking my doc for them at my next appointment. They come in temporary or permanent - if you are worried, try the temp version first. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-eye-doc-wants-to-give-me-punctal-plugs/964083/3 "2022-05-06T22:59:57Z")
I had them inserted when I had lasik done. I don’t think they’re permanent, at least not what my surgeon used, but they didn’t bother me. It was momentarily uncomfortable, but I couldn’t feel it afterward. StG ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-eye-doc-wants-to-give-me-punctal-plugs/964083/4 "2022-05-06T23:33:41Z")
He wants to put temporary ones in at first; they’re made of collagen and dissolve after a few weeks. If I tolerate those, he’ll put in more permanent ones. **aruvqan** , why did your roomie adore them? Did they do away with the dry eye? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-eye-doc-wants-to-give-me-punctal-plugs/964083/5 "2022-05-06T23:40:36Z")
You should always go with the temporary/dissolvable plugs first. It’s also really critical that they’re placed properly. If they’re not inserted far enough, the little tip can stick up too much and irritate your eye. If the trial is a success, you may want to consider flow control plugs as your permanent solution: > **[For dry eye patients punctal plugs offer flow control](https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/dry-eye-patients-punctal-plugs-offer-flow-control)** > > Soft Plug Flow Control Silicone Plugs (Oasis Medical) provide partial occlusion of the puncta with limited tear drainage for patients with moderate and severe dry eye. These plugs eliminate epiphora in patients for whom total occlusion is excessive. These reduce or eliminate the tendency that _some_ people have for excessive tearing (paradoxically, often a sign **of** dry eye syndrome). Good luck ! ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-eye-doc-wants-to-give-me-punctal-plugs/964083/6 "2022-05-07T23:40:53Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > **aruvqan** , why did your roomie adore them? Did they do away with the dry eye? Yes - she went from pretty much constantly using neutral gel eyedrops to once or twice a day if she was outside doing gardening. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2022, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-eye-doc-wants-to-give-me-punctal-plugs/964083/7 "2022-05-08T13:35:55Z")
I have them (permanent kind). They work very well for dry eye problems, and after the discomfort\* during insertion I’m no longer aware of them. \*Actually the correct word describing the procedure. Not the “discomfort” that Doctors say when they want to bullshit you about the upcoming intense pain following surgery, etc. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2022, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-eye-doc-wants-to-give-me-punctal-plugs/964083/8 "2022-05-08T17:11:30Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > \*Actually the correct word describing the procedure. Not the “discomfort” that Doctors say when they want to bullshit you about the upcoming intense pain following surgery, etc. Your words give me comfort, as well as **aruvqan** ’s. I was uneasy that it would hurt, and skeptical that they would do any good. Well, I hope I hear back from the doc’s office soon and that the procedure takes place quickly so that I can get it over with.