Punctum plugs

Reduction of normal tear drainage in the event of severe tear deficiency

A severe lack of tears with very dry eyes, can occur e.g. in disorders of the lacrimal gland. This can trigger a strong feeling of dryness with foreign body sensation, eye rubbing and usually also reddening of the eyes.

If there is **insufficient production of tears, it is an obvious approach to slow down** their outflow from the eye

In addition to replacing missing tear fluid with tear supplements, there is also the option of increasing the volume of tear fluid on the eye by reducing the normal outflow into the nose.

This has the advantage that the numerous important active ingredients in the tear fluid remain on the eye and can have a protective effect. Tear substitutes, which mostly contain mainly water, offer less benefit to the eye than natural tears.

Plugs in the lacrimal puncta - punctum plugs - reduce the outflow of tears

The tears flow from the lacrimal gland, laterally above the eye, onto the eyeball and are sucked off again on the nasal side and transported into the nose.

This is done through a small opening (lacrimal punctum) on the eyelid margin. It is directed towards the eyeball so it can dip into the tear lake to suck out the tears. A tiny plug in the lacrimal punctum can prevent drainage (please see image above).

This also explains why deformations of the eyelid with the edge of the eyelid curling (often outward) lead to tear overflow and a watery eye. Then the lacrimal punctum can no longer plunge into the lake of tears and thus no longer suck out the tears.

A temporary punctum plug can be a solution

A tiny punctum plug, mostly from plastic, can be inserted into the lacrimal punctum and is invisible to the naked eye. A punctum plug in one or both lacrimal puncta can improve the lack of tears on the eye and reduce the need for tear supplements.

=> Here you can find more information about a severe lack of tears due to a dysfunction of the lacrimal gland and about the use of punctum plugs .