Depending on the causes, Dry Eye Syndrome can be treated as a temporary problem or a lifelong disease requiring long-term treatment. Either way, tears must be conserved or replaced in order to provide relief. These will provide temporary relief, but with prolonged use, artificial tears can actually disrupt the eye s natural production of tears and lead to further aggravation of the condition, washing away the natural infection fighting tear film on the eye. In cases of persistent Dry Eye symptoms, permanent, reversible closure of the tear duct or punctal occlusion, may be the best solution. Punctal occlusion allows you to retain your own, natural tears without the bother or expense of constantly replacing the tear film with artificial tears.
Punctal occlusion acts very much like a stopper in a sink.
When the punctal opening is closed, tears stay on the eye longer. Punctum Plugs are the least invasive of the long-term solutions to Dry Eye Syndrome. A small, soft silicone plug, about the size of a sesame seed, is non-surgically inserted into the natural punctal opening. The entire procedure can be performed in your Eye Care Professional s office within a few minutes. Many patients report immediate relief from Dry Eye symptoms.