Dry Eyes Tear Duct Plug

Sometimes punctal plugs can irritate the tear ducts.

Dry eyes tear duct plug.

A punctal plug is a small device that blocks tear duct drainage. Punctal occlusion is a painless procedure in which the puncta small openings in the corners of the eyes through which tears drain the tear ducts are blocked. This is the area where tears usually drain through the back of your nose and throat. One approach to treating dry eyes is plugging the openings to the tear ducts with tiny silicone plugs punctal plugs.

Plugs that don t fit properly could stick out of the tear duct and rub against the surface of your eye or eyelid. The plugs may cause redness and swelling inflammation in the tear duct. Punctal plugs may help to relieve the symptoms of chronic dry itchy or burning eyes. Your doctor inserts the plug into your tear duct to block the natural drainage of tears from your eye down the duct and into your nose.

The plugs are inserted into the tear duct opening punctal in the corner of your eye. Ongoing inflammation can scar or damage the tear ducts. If you visit your eye doctor with complaints of dry eyes you will likely be informed about plugging your tear ducts or punctal occlusion. These plugs close the tiny opening punctum that you have in the inner corner of your upper and lower eyelids.