Are there any dangers to punctual plugs?

What is its track record on helping dry eyes out due to amblyopia?

 

Huh? What does one have to do with the other?

And what does the subject have to do with the text?

 

I don't understand your question. Amblyopia is not a cause of dry eye, dry
eye is not a cause of amblyopia.

Punctal plugs do not dry eyes out, they help keep dry eyes moist.

Dr Judy

 

I know someone who has amblyopia. A long time ago
doctors did surgery on his eyelid muscle. They cut it
for some reason. Anyway... his eyelid doesn't close
all of the way because of the shortened muscle hence
dry eyes. He needs relief.
Can a punctual plug help him.

 

If someone has an eyelid doesn't close fully, it is not due to cut lid
muscle - that would make it droop. Be that as it may, if the lid does not
close fully, puntal plugs may help the expousre keratitis he gets from the
eye drying out. So can artificla tears and other lubricants, up to a point.
He may rather need further lid surgery to help get the lid closure better.
Taping the lid closed at night may help because when the eye is not moving
much at night, and is open, it driees out more, esp. in those patients where
the eyeball doesn't roll up under the lid when sleeping (Bell's phenomenon).


David Robins, MD
Board certified Ophthalmologist
Pediatric and strabismus subspecialty
Member of AAPOS
(American Academy of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)

_________________________________________________

 

Your friend may have been born with congenital ptosis. In ptosis the upper
lid does not work and eye is closed all the time and the closed eye causes
amblyopia. Surgery is done to raise the lid so that light can get to the
eye and often the eye will then not close fully.

Artificial tears and/or punctal plugs may help. Your friend needs a
professional opinion.

Dr Judy

 

I have both conditions even though they are not related. I got plugs
inserted about 3 years ago and, though they have not totally eliminated the
dry eye problem, they have helped a great deal. I have had no negative side
effects and do not even notice them. Now if only adult amblyopia were so
easily remedied...