Evening All :) Has anyone had the Tear duct plugs put in? Only my 2nd time here, please bare with me.

[Giny]

Hi there,

Finally I am getting somewhere with my suspicions of Sjorgens disease. (I have numerous additional sypmtoms) Anyway after 2 years of burning, scratching painful eyes, I actually saw a specialist today. I had the Schmirer test done and my eyes were at the severe stage for dryness 2.5mm on my right eyes and 0 on my left eye, the nurses were rather surprised at how dry they are. Then I saw the Doctor who looked in some length into my eyes and gave me a prescription for Celluvisc to use every half an hour during the day and told me to get rid of my viscoe gel tears. (I still use my lacri-lube at night though) He then gave me a slip of paper to take to the front desk and said he's putting in duct plugs. I've just read about them and I'll be happy to have some additonal help as it's been driving me up the wall (literally) with pain. I'm just wondering 'does this hurt'? And if there was any eye damage do you think he would have told me then or will this be in an additional visit? :).

Thank you for listening

Giny

[Anteater]

Hi Giny

You don't have to worry - I have the plugs in both eyes. They will put drops in your eyes then the plugs will go in, you will feel a bit of pressure but other than that it is a painless procedure and no eye damage.

My eyes have been so much better since having the plugs - they still get a bit dry and I use Hylo-tear during the day but not as much as they used too - I also use Lacri-lube at night.

Good luck x

[Jessie122 in reply to Anteater]

Hello Giny and Anteater, I had Lacri Lube at night when I was first diagnosed after a shmirer test. My GP did the test as he used to do a clinic with an eye consultant twice a week. I cannot remember why I stopped using the Lacri Lube. It would be good to have something that lasted all night. I am awake frequently in the night with pain and because of dinking a lot of water because of my dry mouth and going to the loo. Can you describe Lacri Lube for me please? I was allergic to some of the preparations and only use Hypermellose at present. Interesingly my son was born with dry eyes and had to visit an eye specialist regularly whilst his sight developed. He never cried tears and still does not have visible tears. Although I have dry eyes I do have tears if I cry but I was told my eyes are dry because they are the wrong quality of tears. I am an only child but my Mother and all her brothers and sisters and there were eight of them developed dry mouth and swallowing problems as thy grew older. Only some of them had dry eyes. However the symptoms were treated but they never had a diagnosis as to why they had these problems. They all had Arthritis. It males you wonder if these things are inherited?

Good Luck with you tear duct plugs.

Best Wishes

Jessie 122.

[Giny in reply to Jessie122]

Hi Jessie 122

Lacri-lube is a thin purple tube of eye ointment. I use this at night times and like yourself I have to sip on lots of water and constantly running back and forth to the loo (its soooo annoying) and I have to put the ointment in again in order to ease my eye pain from dryness, scratching etc. Everyone is different so maybe at some point you may have had an allergic reaction to it, is that possible? Sometimes, dry eyes, dry mouth and Arthritis can be one of the same thing (one causing another problem) like Sjorgens disease can be (but not neccesarily) be a primary or secondary disease and Arthritus can be a possible reason why you have dry eyes, mouth etc. You can find all the information on here, you just type in Arthritus or Sjorgens disease and they will lead to one another depending on your sypmtoms. It's worth doing as I learnt sooooo much about it as I've had so many symptoms for so many years now and they are all finally coming to a head, consequently things are finally starting to move.

Hope this has helped a little as this is all new to me to, but please google your sypmtoms as it'll open your eyes to lots of interesting facts and info.

Good luck

Giny

[Jessie122 in reply to Jessie122]

Thank You Giny, I remeber now I did have an allergy to Lacri Lube. It was given to me to stop me waking constantly in the night to put drops in.

Best Wishes

Jessie122

[Giny in reply to Anteater]

Hi Anteater (love your name)

Thanks for your info it's encouraging and I'm glad to hear that they have worked rather well for you, so fingers crossed I can get some relief to. I'm pretty sure I'll be the same and still have some dryness but that I can cope with, but the way I am at the moment is quite unbearable so roll on appointment for my plugs. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks again

Giny

[Giny in reply to Anteater]

Hi Anteater, just to let you know I am having my plugs put in on Friday morning 11am Weeeeee. I'm so happy because since my last trip to the hospital the Doctor changed my eye drops to Celluvisc (have you heard of them)? Anyway, I have to put them in every half an hour, and these days half hour is like 5 minutes, it's just an inconvenience so will be glad when I.ve got my plugs in Yeeeeahhhh

Giny x

[Anteater in reply to Giny]

HEY Giny good luck so pleased yr finally having them done, I hope you will notice some improvement. I have not heard of Celluvisc - I use Hylo-Tear which I find really good. Keep us updated xxx

[Giny in reply to Anteater]

Hi Anteater I've got them in and as you said it didn't hurt at all, so thank you My next appt will be in approx 8 weeks to see if the plugs have worked and if so the surgeon said they will make it permanent. I have antibiotic drops to use up to 3 days so I'm nearly finished with them:). I'm to continue to use my ointment (Lacri-lube) at night and my celluvisc during the day. I'm so glad it's done Yeeeeaahhh , chat soon I hope x

[Giny in reply to Anteater]

Hi Anteater...Can you remember how long it took for you to get some good relief from your eyes once you had the plugs put in as I'm still struggling and wondering if I should call my GP. Thanks

Giny

[Yorky]

Yes I've had the plugs put in also, no it doesn't hurt as they put in anaesthetic drops first. I' ve also had one of the top ducts cauterised and admit that the injection before hand was not very pleasant. It all helps to keep some moisture over the eyes. Still have to use drops during the day and ointment at night though

[Anteater in reply to Yorky]

hi yorky, I also have a choice to have them cauterised - do you think it is better than the plugs?

[Yorky in reply to Anteater]

One of the plugs in my eyes did come out. I wasn't aware, but I do rub my eyes quite a lot, Of course the cauterisation is permanent, but I can't see my eyes suddenly getting too watery. They did have to inject into the eye lid, not very pleasant, this did make my eye water! and then I didn't feel anything, but there was a smell of burning flesh, I don't thing there is any difference in preserving the tears, it depends on if the plugs keep coming out.

[Anteater in reply to Yorky]

Hi Yorky

Same happened to me with one of the plugs coming out and I didnt realise although that eye was drier. The put a bigger one in and I get my friend to check now and again to make sure they are still both in, as like you a rub my eyes. Will think about the cauterisation as does not seem very pleasant

[Giny in reply to Yorky]

Oh it's good to know they can put in anaesthetic drops if needed. I am curious about the cauterisation method as I've never heard of it so I will do a search on here out of interest to see, who and why etc etc etc. Thanks for your input

Giny

[Giny in reply to Yorky]

Hi Yorky,

Well they've put the plugs in for me and it all went well (thanks goodness). The surgeon said that after my 8 week appt and the plugs have worked they will probably make them permanent.... do you think he could've been referring to cauterization like you had. In a way I would be glad to have it sorted permanently but a little hesitant because of the needle (like anyone)

Giny

[Yorky in reply to Giny]

Hello, he could have meant cauterisation, the injection is not that bad,it doesn't last long. From what I understand skin often grows over the plugs making them difficult to remove anyway. Best of luck, I hope tyhey help.

[frostykitten]

Plugs were suggested for me over 15 years ago, but I just kept using over the counter drops until about two years ago. A good eye doc finally prescribed Restasis. It keeps my eyes from constantly being red. I still supplement with OTC drops but I take Restasis once in the AM and in the PM. I recommend it for extreme dry eye. I failed the schirmer test completely....

Good luck to you.

[Giny in reply to frostykitten]

Hi Frostykitten.

Yes I failed the schirmer test badly....I had no moisture in my left eye (should have been 15mm) I had 2.5mm in my right eye. My eyes are still hurting now with the plugs in but I'm hoping I just need to give them a little more time. I'm interested in learning more about Restasis. Good luck Giny