I have been fitted with plugs to increase the moisture in
my eyes. I find they are a bit painful (scratching feeling)
when I shift my eyes to look in another direction. I feel
the only way they are helping with moisture is when I
tear because they scratch. Is this normal? I got them
rechecked to make sure they were all the way in and
the Dr. said they were. Is there normally an adjustment
period to these?

I also notice that my eyes seem dryer with the plugs,
and I have not experienced the expected improvement
in vision. If anything, my night vision seems worse. Is
this possible? It doesn't make sense to me. It was a
surprise to me when he even told me I had dry eyes.
They hardly felt dry...except now with the plugs. I'm
using my drops now more than ever. I had the same
result with the temp plugs, but they insisted I get the
permanent ones. I asked about Restasis, but the Dr.
said my dryness was not that severe. Hum... Any
suggestions?

I'm not certain how far you are out from surgery, but some of the dryness you are experiencing may be temporary, lasting up to 6 months or so. For temporary dryness, punctal plugs are typically the way to go.

However, I have been seeing some positive results with Restasis. The effects aren't immediate. After several months of treatment, I have literally had to "pull the plugs" on several post-LASIK patients with punctal plugs and who subsequently developed epiphora after Restasis treatment.

Yea!

Greg Gemoules, O.D.
Coppell, Texas

I went back today to get the plugs adjusted or pulled
out. I wanted to give them a chance, but I couldn't take
the pain anymore.

They took the right plug out...it was almost out anyway,
and they pushed the left one further in. Thankfully I do
not hurt anymore. My rt eye is a little sore because I
think the white part got a little scratched over the
weekend. I'm sure it will heal in a couple of days
though, at least I hope.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that this will work for me. I
don't want to have to go back because I don't want to be
"that" patient.

I was having the same problem as you. Only thing is I also have Sjohrens disease which causes dry eyes. I never noticed a real problem with my eyes being that dry until after my cataract surgery. Soon after that they put in the temp plugs. My eyes were then continuosly dry and upon turning my eyes a certain way I would get a sharp stabbing pain. After four days I had them taken out. Believe it or not the nurse that removed them told me she had the same problem. She said they should have used the silicone ones. I'm not sure what yours are but I would check. If your eyes are bothering you more now then before I would have them taken out. I never had anything else put in after that and when my eyes feel dry I just use Refresh drops. Good Luck! L