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Punctal plugs for treatment of post-LASIK dry eye

  • Clinical Investigation
  • Published:
Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of punctal plugs for patients with post-LASIK dry eye.

Materials and methods

A prospective study was conducted on 25 eyes of 18 patients who underwent LASIK. All eyes fulfilled the Japanese dry-eye criteria and had not responded to conventional treatment with artificial tears by 1 month postsurgery. They were randomly divided into a plug and a non-plug group. Punctal plugs were inserted into the superior and inferior puncta in the plug group after the 1-month examination. Uncorrected and best corrected visual acuity (UCVA, BCVA), refraction, functional visual acuity (FVA) after 10 s eye opening (FVA 10), surface regularity index (SRI) after 10 s eye opening (SRI 10), corneal sensitivity, Schirmer test, fluorescein staining (FS), tear break-up time (TBUT), and symptoms were compared between the groups 1 and 3 months postsurgery. Changes in these data from 1 to 3 months were also compared between the groups.

Results

The values in SRI 10, FS, and TBUT were significantly better in the plug group at 3 months. Changes in the values of UCVA, FVA 10, FS, TBUT, and symptoms between 1 and 3 months improved significantly in the plug group compared with the non-plug group.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that punctal occlusion for both puncta is effective for patients with post-LASIK dry eye that cannot be controlled by artificial tears alone. Punctal plugs can improve not only the symptoms and tear function, but also the quality of vision, for example FVA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Smile Eye Clinic, Yokohama, Japan

    Yang Hao Yung

  2. Minamiaoyama Eye Clinic, 3-3-11 Kitaaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0061, Japan

    Ikuko Toda, Chikako Sakai & Atsushi Yoshida

  3. Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Ikuko Toda & Kazuo Tsubota

Authors
  1. Yang Hao Yung
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  2. Ikuko Toda
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  3. Chikako Sakai
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  4. Atsushi Yoshida
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  5. Kazuo Tsubota
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ikuko Toda.

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Yung, Y.H., Toda, I., Sakai, C. et al. Punctal plugs for treatment of post-LASIK dry eye. Jpn J Ophthalmol 56, 208–213 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-012-0125-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-012-0125-8

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