Punctal Plugs
Punctal Plugs are extremely safe and can be removed for whatever reason in a few seconds in the office and are usually covered by insurance. Dr. Latkany performs all Punctal Plug placements.
People have dry eyes because their eyes do not make sufficient tears, or their tears evaporate too quickly. Both situations leave a person with an insufficient tear layer covering the eye. This results in dry eyes. Dry eyes usually cause discomfort. They burn, itch, feel like there is a grit in the eye sensation, and can cause blurry vision.
Tears that do not evaporate depart the eye via a tube that connects the eyelids to the nose. If you evert your eyelid, you will see a black dot on the inner surface near the nose. This is the opening into the tube connecting the eyelid to the nose and where tears leave the eye.
If you have one or more of these eye conditions:
✓ Redness
✓ Dryness
✓ Grittiness
✓ Burning
✓ Excessive Tearing
✓ Contact Lens Discomfort
✓ Post-surgical Eye Discomfort
Contact our Dry Eye Specialist at Physician Eyecare of NY to learn how we can help you.
You may also wish to purchase a copy of Dr. Latkany’s book, Dry Eye Remedy, available at Amazon.com
What are Punctal Plugs
Plugging this duct or tube opening may stop the tears from leaving your eye. Thereby, this keeps the eye more lubricated and alleviates eye discomfort.
An eye specialist can plug this opening with absorbable or non-absorbable Punctal Plugs.
The absorbable plugs are intended to be temporary. They last from a few days to six (6) months. The phase prior to the absorbable plugs dissolving, usually allows sufficient time for the patient to notice a benefit and opt for the long-term non-absorbable plugs.
For long-term occlusion, we use non-absorbable plugs. They are most commonly made of silicone or a hydrophilic acrylic.
Both absorbable and non-absorbable plugs can be placed in a sterile, office-setting in less than a minute without any discomfort. Both types of Punctal Plugs are less than one (1) cm and are not visible to an observer.