Wellness

[Jayhawk Girl]

I finally saw the eye specialist today regarding my watery, constantly tearing eye!  He said I have totally blocked tear ducts and he is going to perform a snip punctoplasty (sp?) and insert tubes.  YIkes!  This sounds disgusting to me but if it works, sign me up.  Anybody had this procedure?  Thanks!

[Tribesters]

Sounds like what my Mom had done last year. Unfortunately it didn't help her much- her eyes still water. Good luck with yours.

[Jayhawk Girl]

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@Tribesters wrote:

Sounds like what my Mom had done last year. Unfortunately it didn't help her much- her eyes still water. Good luck with yours.

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Oh no!  That doesn't sound very promising!

[Kachina624]

@RockChalkJayhawk  A snip punctoplasty sounds like something first graders do when they're learning to use scissors.  Undoubtedly an attempt to make a simple procedure sound technical. 

Hope it's successful for you. 

[gizmogal]

I complained to my ophthalmologist about my tearing eyes. So annoying. I was told about the same blocked drains. The tear ducts worked fine producing sufficient natural tears, but there are literally drain holes I n the lower lid area  that can be blocked, then the tears overflow and the eye streams. Right in the office exam chair he used an instrument, perhaps a thin wire or needle, to clear the drains. After the puncture procedure he used a type of syringe to force-flush the drains. I could feel the tiny stream of water running at the side of my nose (inside) right to the back of my throat. It was unusual but not painful. None of it was painful and it took barely a minute each to unclog and flush the drain in each eye, one at a time.  

The difference was amazing. All winter I noticed no tearing and nuisance wetness and blurring. Now that it's summer, I'm out in the breeze going sailing almost every day. No tears!

I wasn't given any fancy name for the procedure and I felt no discomfort, maybe a tiny pinching feel during the "drain clearing" and the odd drip feel as the flush followed to clear the drain completely. It worked, it was quick, there were no tubes inserted in my case. Perhaps if simple drain clearing didn't work orvrecurred he'd try tubes. But no so far. I'd follow the doc's advice and let it get fixed. It will give much greater comfort. 

Medicare covered whatever code was used for the billing so I guess this is pretty standard.  Hope it works for you. Don't be scared. 

[Jayhawk Girl]

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@gizmogal wrote:

I complained to my ophthalmologist about my tearing eyes. So annoying. I was told about the same blocked drains. The tear ducts worked fine producing sufficient natural tears, but there are literally drain holes I n the lower lid area  that can be blocked, then the tears overflow and the eye streams. Right in the office exam chair he used an instrument, perhaps a thin wire or needle, to clear the drains. After the puncture procedure he used a type of syringe to force-flush the drains. I could feel the tiny stream of water running at the side of my nose (inside) right to the back of my throat. It was unusual but not painful. None of it was painful and it took barely a minute each to unclog and flush the drain in each eye, one at a time.  

The difference was amazing. All winter I noticed no tearing and nuisance wetness and blurring. Now that it's summer, I'm out in the breeze going sailing almost every day. No tears!

I wasn't given any fancy name for the procedure and I felt no discomfort, maybe a tiny pinching feel during the "drain clearing" and the odd drip feel as the flush followed to clear the drain completely. It worked, it was quick, there were no tubes inserted in my case. Perhaps if simple drain clearing didn't work orvrecurred he'd try tubes. But no so far. I'd follow the doc's advice and let it get fixed. It will give much greater comfort. 

Medicare covered whatever code was used for the billing so I guess this is pretty standard.  Hope it works for you. Don't be scared. 

Thanks @gizmogal.  I think I would walk barefoot on the hot pavement right now, if that's what it takes to fix this.  So annoying!  They will put me in a twilight sleep, like a colonoscopy, and the procedure will take about 30 minutes.  I will try not to be scared....I am kind of a wuss.  But, I'm ready.  Thanks for the reply!

[I am still oxox]

I was awake and sitting in the chair for mine, too bad the did not work , I am not on Xiidra for dry eye and not sure if it is working

[Sueliz]

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@I am still oxox wrote:

I was awake and sitting in the chair for mine, too bad the did not work , I am not on Xiidra for dry eye and not sure if it is working

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Hi @I am still oxox, my ophthalmologist just put me on Restasis and Lotemax which is a steroid for dry eye.  It's helping a lot now so maybe mention this to your doc if you get no relief from the Xiidra.  I suffer from Uveitis from an autoimmune disease I have and the dry eye is something new for me. I hope you find something that works for you soon, best of luck.

[tiredlady]

I have the same condition.  My doctor took a needle and went into the ducts to open them up.  Didn't work well so he sent me to a plastic surgeon.  He gave me a shot in each eye and then proceeded to go in and try to stretch the ducts!  It made it a little better but didn't fix the problem.  I go back next week.  I think I am just going to let them water!!

[I am still oxox]

Been there done that I was on restatis twice with no help, lotemax heped a lot but it is a steriod and she will not keep me on it for prolonged use

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@Sueliz wrote:

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@I am still oxox wrote:

I was awake and sitting in the chair for mine, too bad the did not work , I am not on Xiidra for dry eye and not sure if it is working

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Hi @I am still oxox, my ophthalmologist just put me on Restasis and Lotemax which is a steroid for dry eye.  It's helping a lot now so maybe mention this to your doc if you get no relief from the Xiidra.  I suffer from Uveitis from an autoimmune disease I have and the dry eye is something new for me. I hope you find something that works for you soon, best of luck.

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