How Effective is Punctal Plugs for Dry Eye Treatment

How Effective is Punctal Plugs for Dry Eye Treatment?

People often ask if they should try punctal plugs for dry eyes.

The simple answer is YES- if you are producing some tears. 

For people who do not produce tears, punctal plugs will not be effective.

To increase tear production - use TheraLife Eye Enhanced capsules to help restore, revive and normalize your own tear functions from inside out. 

To learn more, go to www.theralife.com

Research Studies of Punctal Plugs

a research study in 2005 study by C.W. Roberts contained 30 dry eye patients divided into 3 groups. The groups were randomly assigned and being treated with the following:
 

1. Cyclosporine twice a day
2. Parasol punctal occlusion in the lower eye lid
3. A combination of punctal occlusion and cyclosporine bid

 
The results of the study showed improvements in all three groups, but the greatest improvement was found in the group receiving combination treatments of the cyclosporine and punctal occulation simultaneously. The superior improvements in the combination treatment group were in the areas of reduction in conjunctival Lissamine green staining, decrease in artificial tear use by 3.8 tears a day, and an increase in Schirmer’s scores from 2.5 to 6.5 mm.

Another study by McCabe in 2009, published in Review of Ophthalmology, demonstrated that 43% of the patients in the study benefited from an improvement in Snellen visual acuity with punctal occlusion. Today we have a greater number of options in punctal occlusion. Not only are there newer permanent silicone plugs, intracanalicular plugs, but the increasingly popular and versatile extended duration plugs. While we have had dissolvable plugs for many years we now have ready access to 90-day plugs, as well as 180-day dissolvable plugs. These dissolvable plugs are ideal for patients undergoing cataract or refractive surgery that may benefit from 6 months of occlusion. Permanent or dissolvable punctal plugs continue to play a viable role as part of comprehensive treatment of your dry eye patients once the treatment of inflammation and lid conditions have begun.

 Conclusion.  In order for punctal plugs to work, the ideal situation is to treat dry eyes at the same time.

We recommend TheraLife Eye Enhanced, a natural alternative to eye drops that really works. 

To learn more, visit theralife.com

Questions:  Call toll free 1-877-917-1989