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Dry eye symptoms improve despite loss of silicone punctal plugs
Am J Ophthalmol. 2008;146(6):968-972.
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Punctal and canalicular stenoses after loss of collared silicone punctal plugs were shown to be asymptomatic for up to 7 years in a group of patients undergoing treatment for dry eye syndrome.
"Punctal scarring and canalicular stenosis are reported complications after spontaneous loss of collared punctal plugs, but until now data from a panel of diagnostic tests for evaluating the course of these stenoses over a longer period have not been published," the study authors said.
The retrospective study included 17 eyes of 14 patients — 12 women and two men who had a mean age 53 years – treated with plugs for dry eye. Mean follow-up was 39 months.
Data showed statistically significant decreases in subjective dry eye symptoms (P < .01) and frequency of artificial tear use (P < .001).
The authors theorized that the stenosis mimics punctal occlusion with plugs.
"Supposedly, in a chronic situation like dry eye, which sometimes warrants permanent closure of one or both puncta, the punctal or canalicular stenosis may be useful to the patient," the authors said. "This study indicates that punctal and proximal canalicular stenoses act like punctal plugs, with few complications."