Do you do the Punctal Occlusion?

[Trish_GlaucomaUK]

With any eyedrop you use, it is always recommended that you do the punctal occlusion.

Some patient information leaflets mention this while others don't. But even if it is not mentioned, we always recommend you do this with any prescribed glaucoma eyedrops.

It will help to stop side effects and is simple to do.

Make sure your hands have been washed.

Once you've put your eyedrops in, close your eye and gently press on the tear duct for up to 2 minutes. This will hold the drop in the eye and also stop it from entering your tearduct, getting to the back of the throat and into the bloodstream encouraging side effects.

You may do this already but if you don't, it is worth starting.

youtube.com/watch?v=NRdpBa7...(Not working as expected?)

[HMThai]

So very helpful and a continuous reminder ought to be circulated as often as possible!Hi Trish..... laborious as it is and boring day in day out, night in night out this is the most important part after putting in tye and drops,I look up normally laying down so eye drops don't get a chance to travel downwards,gently pressing the tearduct with a small piece of tissue.Somewhere here I have posted a video about this!I must remind all patients including myself!😁😁 that in order minimize side effects punctual occlusion is the first important step,The second one to gently rinse the eyes (With the eyes closed!!) to wash away the residue of the drops.We all know the about eye lashes don't we?!😁....My wife plucked a few of my eye lashes the other day....like small soft needles!!😁...... Sending good wishes to you all from Thailand!❤️🎶

Very useful short video from AA O!

aao.org/education/basic-ski...

[Pembrokeshirelass in reply to HMThai]

No, I don't know about eyelashes 😟🤔. I'm currently using eye drops twice a day, and I always use the punctual occlusion technique, but what should I know about eyelashes please?

[HMThai in reply to Pembrokeshirelass]

What a lovely screen name!!😁.... Good Morning from Thailand.....ok so about the eye lashes..... after many years of eye drops the eye lashes begin to change colour towards light brown and grow longer than normal eye lashes,the problem is some lashes get in way when blinking.....the other day my wife plucked a few which were interfering pointing and very uncomfortable,inwards very near the tear ducts... they were not soft like other eye lashes.....In the eye drop instructions it is mentioned in side effects about eye lashes changing colour together with other things!...

[Pembrokeshirelass in reply to HMThai]

Thank you so much for your reply 😊. The information about eyelashes was very interesting - I don't remember reading anything about in the information leaflets that came with my eye drops,but perhaps I should go back to reread them😅! I have been using various prescribed eye drops for just over 2 years now, since an acute glaucoma attack, and a subsequent operation to remove a cataract. Despite seeing several eye experts, I've only once been advised to use the punctual occlusion technique, which I continue to do, despite getting some odd looks at several appointments for eye check ups 🙄!! I do hope that you are safe and well after the recent earthquake in Myanmar🙏🏻🙏🏻

[mrswaffle]

I have never understood why, when drops are so widely prescribed, no member of ophthalmology staff gives instruction on using them. It might be obvious to them, but not to a new patient! I remember the first time I ever tried to figure out, from the amateurish ‘diagram’ in the manufacturer’s leaflet, exactly what I was supposed to do! I am a person who prefers my instructions in word form!

[HMThai in reply to mrswaffle]

aao.org/education/basic-ski...

Hope this helps!

[mrswaffle in reply to HMThai]

Thank you! I was lucky in that a kind optometrist helped me, many years ago (I was first diagnosed in 2007) but it would be ideal, if every new patient were directed to this video!

[HMThai in reply to mrswaffle]

Hello from Thailand!....I am sure Trish will organise it to reposted....I have been doing this since time began!😁🎈🎶

[CroftS]

Thank you for that info.

[Marmitemissy]

I do this but I worry it then stops the drops from also getting behind the eye to do it's job ?

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner in reply to Marmitemissy]

The eyedrops are absorbed into the eye through the cornea to reach the drainage system of the eye. The punctal occlusion stops the drops from travelling to the back of the throat and into the blood stream.

[Marmitemissy in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Thank you. That puts my mind at rest

[Costadelsol]

I do it and I am still getting side effects.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner in reply to Costadelsol]

If you are putting drops in both eyes and then doing the PO it may be that the first drop is getting into the tearduct while you are putting the drop in the other eye. If this relates you can trying one eye and then repeating in the other eye. It may help.