Dry eye syndrome can sneak up on you. Maybe your eyes feel gritty or burn after screen time, or you find yourself blinking constantly outdoors. Whatever the trigger, your eyes need moisture to function properly.
Led by renowned ophthalmologist and medical director Dr. David Galiani, Galiani Ophthalmology Associates offers advanced solutions in Reading and Doylestown, PA, to help reclaim your eye comfort. Punctal plugs are highly effective for certain types of dry eye, but they’re a lesser-known solution. Here’s how they can help.
How Punctal Plugs Help With Dry Eye
Dry eye has two main forms:
- Aqueous-deficient dry eye (ADDE) develops when your eyes don’t make adequate tears.
- Evaporative dry eye occurs when you make enough tears, but they dry up too quickly due to poor tear quality.
Many patients have a mix of ADDE and evaporative dry eye.
While treatments like LipiFlow® and intense pulsed light (IPL) focus on improving the quality of your tears, punctal plugs work by increasing the amount of tears on the surface of your eyes.
Punctal plugs are tiny (about the size of a single grain of rice.) They’re made of collagen or a body-safe material, such as silicone.
Your eye doctor inserts punctal plugs into the inner corners of the eyelids (the puncta). The puncta drain tears from your eyes, but with punctal plugs in place, you retain more of your natural tears, which improves eye lubrication and relieves uncomfortable symptoms like burning and itching.
The Punctal Plug Process: Quick and Easy
Our experienced eye doctors perform the punctal plug procedure in-office, and it’s typically quick and comfortable. Most patients don’t feel the plugs once they’re in place.
Depending on your needs, you may receive temporary dissolvable plugs or longer-lasting ones that your eye doctor removes later.
At Galiani Ophthalmology Associates, punctal plugs are often just one part of a personalized dry eye treatment plan. We evaluate the cause of your dryness and tailor your care accordingly.
Advanced Dry Eye Relief in Reading and Doylestown
If artificial tears and other home remedies aren’t helping, punctal plugs could be your next step. Contact Galiani Ophthalmology Associates at 215-345-5144 (Doylestown) or 610-376-1981 (Reading) to make your appointment.
