Any info would help me know which kind to use as well if I am going to do this. The thought of having something put in my eyes is bothersome but losing my vision over time due to dryness is much more bothersome!!!!I've never met anyone with SS so it's strange for me having an autoimmune disease
(just finally diagnosed nov 2013) & not knowing another soul in my shoes when I know there are many...
Hoping to get some input from someone in the name of plugs or NO plugs!?!
Hi I have not had this done ,but my rhumy con ,has written to my GP asking that I am seen by eye specialist and I would possible benefit from these plugs , I have also been told I am to have a lip biopsy , have been off work 9 wks was being treated for lupus as antibodies found in my bloods but won't give me that label but I can only identify with how you feel which is scared ,I am just going with it ,not much more we can do really ,he is now using the terms sjorens syndrom but it's like every time I go to see con there's a new leaflet with a new poss diagonise .good luck .:-)
Hello
I have had this procedure a number of years ago now and would recommend anyone that has Sjorgens
Syndrome and suffers with having very dry eyes to go for his procedure. I is not as daunting as you think and the benefits are instant. I only need to use eye drops on the odd occasion and feel have greatly benefited
from having the plugs inserted. If you need any more information please let em know.
Good luck.
Mo :-)
Please could you explain a bit more about these plugs and are they immediately comfortable?
Regards
Samantha.
Hello Samantha, Yes when the plugs on inserted you don't feel them, as the go into the tear duct. It is a quick and simple procedure, I believe you will benefit immediately. If you need any more info please let me know. Good luck
Hi Cali,
I have had the plugs for about 2-3 years. I too was very, very skeptical and hesitant when I first heard about it−the ophthalmologist wanted to do the procedure THAT SAME DAY−whereas I needed to go home and read about it first. I considered it "major surgery," lol, but to him, it was a 10-second process that would immediately transform my life.
Well, I went ahead with it, and although I did not feel immediately relief, I did begin to notice the difference within a day. Having the ductal plugs has meant a 1000% improvement. Before, I was using non-preservative drops (the kind in the little plastic vials) about 10-100 times per day. Now my eyes are MUCH less dry, itchy and inflamed. Before, I was in constant discomfort or even pain, and would often have to be treated for corneal ulcers and the like. Now, tears stay longer on the surface of my eyes before the overflow drips off (because, if your lower ducts are plugged, the tears cannot drain into them). My doctor had told me that my eyes were particularly dry on the lower insides. Now, the dry, patchy areas are much improved.
To tell the truth, I was actually quite freaked out by the very idea of the procedure, but it is safe and harmless and very effective. I would recommend it to anyone with Sjogren's who is suffering from dry eye.
The one piece of advice I would give you for afterwards is to be careful not to rub your eyes. When I did that, the duct areas became slightly inflamed and I could feel the plugs. Eventually, I rubbed the plugs right out. But that is not uncommon. You just go back and have new ones inserted. I don't know how it is at your clinic, but my doctor offered to insert temporary (3-month, I believe) plugs so I could just try them out, or more permanent ones. I decided on the spur of the moment to get the longer-lasting ones and I did not regret that for a moment.
Good luck to you! I hope you feel better.
It was reccommended to me before I knew i had SS. Had I had any idea that it would still be an issue for me 10 years later, I would have gotten it done. I hope the procedure went smooth for you!
Have the plugs done. I loved them the first time, really easy to put in by eye doc. My eyes instantly felt cool as there was actually moisture onthe eye ball. Easier to see and drive , I never knew how dry my eyes actually were. the only problem is that they fall out. they have to change the size to make them stay in ut so far mine just fall out. I will do it again soon. You don't feel them at all which is a problem as difficult to know they are no longetr there.
Really they can fall out? My doctor didn't mention anything about that. She just kept saying that it is very comfortable and that it would help me a whole bunch. I didnt have it done, but if she had told me that, that would have scared me even more. Did you have them put back in afterwards? Or did the time that you had them in help you out enough that you didnt bother having it done again?