What is a perforated punctal plug?
This is a tiny silicon pipe that sits at the entrance of your tear ducts holding it open, allowing tears to drain away. Very rarely do patients feel it being there, and it can be easily removed it so.
This procedure is often performed in conjunction with an ectropion repair to reposition the eyelid against the eyeball. The tear duct needs to be wide open and also in the right position to drain the tears away.
There is some evidence that a punctal plugs is more successful than a punctoplasty at reducing watering.
What is a punctoplasty?
A punctoplasty is a minor and quick surgical procedure to surgically widen the opening of the tear ducts in the inner corner of the eyelids. There is an opening on the upper and lower eyelids, typically only the lower is treated as it does most of the work but is more likely to be narrow. The opening is dilated and some of the tissue around the opening is removed.
What are the benefits of a punctoplasty?
Enlarging the opening of the tear ducts aims to help drain tears away. This operation is often performed in conjunction with an ectropion repair to reposition the eyelid against the eyeball. The tear duct needs to be wide open and also in the right position to drain the tears away.
What problems can occur after the operation?
Mr Lin performs many hundreds of eyelid operations per year and will draw on his expertise to minimise the risk of problems.
• Whilst there will be no visible scar, the tear duct can scar up inside and close up again, which may require a stent to keep open
• Minor bruising and swelling of the eyelids is normal. These changes will settle after a few days, and will take longer to resolve in patients with blood thinners.
• Bleeding after the operation is usually slight and stops within a short time. If bleeding continues you should contact the hospital in case further treatment is required.
• A post-operative infection may rarely develop in the lids when they would become tender, red and more swollen and the wound may open and discharge. If this happens then you should contact the hospital as antibiotic tablets may be needed to help correct this and allow the lids to heal.
