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A punctal plug, also known as tear duct plug or lacrimal plug, is a small medical device that is inserted into the tear duct (puncta) of an eye to block the duct. This prevents the drainage of liquid from the eye. They are used to treat dry eye. Artificial tears are usually still required after punctal plug insertion. [1]
A punctal plug may be inserted into the tear duct by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, decreasing the removal of natural tears from the affected eye. [8] The use of contact lenses may help prevent the abrasion during blinking lifting off the surface layer and uses thin lenses that are gas permeable to minimise reduced oxygenation.
Punctoplasty is a surgical procedure to restore proper drainage of tears [1] when the lacrimal punctum (puncta lacrimalia) becomes blocked in one or both eyes.. If a blockage is present in the puncta, doctors may suggest a procedure called punctoplasty, performed to widen the drain opening.
Punctal plugs are thought to be "relatively safe", however, their use may result in epiphora (watery eyes), and more rarely, serious infection and swelling of the tear sac where the tears drain. [60] They are reserved for people with moderate or severe dry eye when other medical treatment has not been adequate.
Due to the different underlying causes, proper diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis can only be determined by an eye care professional. Punctate epithelial erosions may be treated with artificial tears. In some disorders, topical antibiotic is added to the treatment. Patients should discontinue contact lens wear until recovery.
Nettleship's punctum dilator: to dilate the lacrimal punctum of the lacrimal apparatus of the eye for syringing or operations Cystotome: a 26 gauge needle bent twice used for incising the anterior capsule of the lens in lens extraction Wire vectis: a loop of wire attached to a stack used to extract cataract affected lenses Irrigating vectis
Persons with dry eye conditions can be fitted with punctal plugs that seal the ducts to limit the amount of fluid drainage and retain moisture. During an ear infection, excess mucus may drain through the nasolacrimal duct in the opposite way tears drain. [citation needed] In humans, the tear ducts in males tend to be larger than the ones in ...
There are many diseases known to cause ocular or visual changes. Diabetes , for example, is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in those aged 20–74, with ocular manifestations such as diabetic retinopathy and macular edema affecting up to 80% of those who have had the disease for 15 years or more.