Are punctual plugs for dry eyes available of the NHS

[fossil321]

My optician thinks punctal plugs will help the dry eyes I have from Sjogrens, has anyone had these done and are they available on the NHS or will I have to go private? If private any idea on cost?

[allanah]

My husband got them done in eye outpatients by the NHS. He eventually had them removed as even though he had little tears when the plugs went in he found the tears did well up a bit, but everyone is different. He still had to use his tear eye drops too depending on the day.

It was a quick simple procedure, have u seen the ophthalmologist? If so have a word with them about it. If not the optician usually can refer you or they can suggest it to your GP to refer you to eye clinic. Good luck xxxxx

[fossil321]

I only saw the optician this morning, she is going to refer me to a specialist and I will go from there. As my dry eyes are affecting my vision she said they may send me for the punctual plugs but she didn't think they were available on the NHS - it is nice to know they are !!! Thank you for your reply. Ann

[sylvi]

I have had them done. They put plugs in to see how my vision managed. Then they cauterised my eyes and it was a simple procedure done in hospital. I am very happy with them.xxx

[Prairie]

Hi there I have sjorgrens syndrome and my optician referred me to a optholomgist and I had the tear ducts plugged sometime June 2012 on nhs. I've had no problems with the actual plugs but I'm always using ongoing steroid eye drops and lubricants everyday to help with my occurring cornea ulcers. I have no tears at all so my eyes are open to infections and for all the ducts help a little my eye doctor said they just have to keep the ulcers at bay as there is no cure for people with chronic dry eye syndrome. There are lots of different medications and eye lubricants. Good luck and you can get them on nhs. Prairie x

[fossil321]

Thank you both, I am not panicking so much now

[Tillytop]

Hello Fossil,

I'm really glad your optician is referring you to a specialist for your dry eyes. Eyes are just too important to mess with aren't they? I've had my eyes "plugged" several times on the NHS and I think it's a fairly standard procedure via the specialist eye clinic. The eye consultant just did it for me there and then as part of the appointment. They helped me but just "disappeared" after only a few days sometimes (this is common apparently) so now I am waiting to be well enough to have my tear ducts cauterised as Sylvi has had done. As the others have said the eye specialist will probably also prescribe lubricant eye drops and/or cream to help keep your eyes more comfortable and hopefully to prevent the scratching/scarring of the eye surface which can occur with dry eyes. They can also prescribe anti-inflammatory and steroid eye drops if they feel it is necessary.

Really hope you don't have to wait long for your eye hospital appointment - and in the meantime it would be worth asking your optician to recommend some suitable eye drops/eye cream if they haven't already done so. Do ask for advice on these though because often the ones recommended by the optician are not the ones which are "on view" in the pharmacy and you need to know what to ask for. They need to be preservative free for regular use (or to have a preservative which "disappears" when you use them). Also the usual ones like Optrex, Blink etc tend not to be thick enough to help much when your eyes are very dry. The ones which work best for me are "Hylo Forte". They can be bought over the counter I think but they are expensive so it's best if you can get them on prescription. I also use Lacrilube ointment at night (and in the daytime sometimes if my eyes are very dry) - messy but effective.

Good luck!

Tillyx

[fossil321 in reply to Tillytop]

Thank you Tilly, I already have drops I use celluvisc during the day, I have also been put on hydrocloraquin which has helped a little. I cant use Lacrilube as I cant see when it is in and as we have a downstairs loo it is not safe for me to be stumbling around in the dark !! I'll keep my fingers crossed that my apt won't be too long. Ann xx

[Pands]

Hi , I also have had my eyes 'plugged' - like Tilly the ophthalmologist just did them there and then as part of my first appointment. This was over 3 years ago and in fact both my lower tear ducts have self-sealed up with scar tissue after my body pushing the punctual plugs out. So I don't need to have them cauterised (ie permanent blocking of the tear ducts).

The little plastic plugs come in different sizes and the ophthalmologist will just have a quick look to see what size you need. It isn't painful at all and I couldn't feel them. The only time they started to bother me was when my body was kicking them out with scar tissue building up and they fell out (but not at the same time!).Best wishes.

[earthwitch]

I think some opticians that provide a more clinical service can do them too. I know in some places in Scotland some minor opthalmology services are now provided by specialist opticians.

[L1zzy]

Yes they are, in Aberdeenshire any way. The don't work for everyone, but have helped me immensely. They do have a tendency to fall out, which is inconvenient, but at least you can tell if they really work. I have now been fitted with plugs designed like a raw plug which so far have stayed in place.

[L1zzy]

The idea of plugs is to prevent any tears you might produce, which come from under the eyelid, and any drops you use, from running away down the tear duct. Some will run on to your cheek, the remainder will stay on the surface of your eye keeping it moist.

[Hidden]

Question?

How does a plug in your tear duct help dry eyes? I would have thought the opposite would happen.

[spzgirl51]

Hello fossil321 ,

Yes,they are definitely available on the NHS. I was offered them for severe dry eyes after my gp referee me to an opthalmologist. I chose to manage my dry eyes with regular use of drops instead. I seem to be managing with drops. For me, the severity of dryness has slightly improved but this may well change in future .

I think the plugs remain a possibility for the future as I have sjogrens diagnosed from a lip biopsy. I do have poor quality sleep from dry eyes , so I am not very sure that I made the correct choice?

I hope you find treatment that works for you .

Best wishes xx