Abstract
Occlusion of the lacrimal drainage system has been advocated in cases of dry eye where other forms of treatment including artificial tears and lid hygiene have proved inadequate. The first method of occlusion suggested was cautery of the tissue around the canaliculus and punctum to prevent tear drainage.1 The first temporary occlusion technique was described in the city of Glasgow by Foulds2 in 1961 who advocated the use of gelatin implants. Today collagen plugs are commercially available (Eagle Vision, Memphis, TN; Lacrimedics, Rialto, CA) to temporarily block tear drainage. The efficacy of dissolvable collagen in blocking punctal drainage is less than complete.3–5 Lowther and Semes5 found that collagen plugs had no appreciable effect on tear break-up, tear prism height, fluorescein, or rose bengal staining, yet patients reported that dryness-related symptoms were significantly reduced.
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Pearce, E.I., Tomlinson, A., Craig, J.P., Lowther, G.E. (1998). Tear Protein Levels Following Punctal Plugging. In: Sullivan, D.A., Dartt, D.A., Meneray, M.A. (eds) Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film, and Dry Eye Syndromes 2. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 438. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5359-5_95
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5359-5_95
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