Punctal Plugs and Lacrifill Treatment for Dry Eye in [practice-city]

Improving Tear Retention for Dry Eye Relief

For patients who experience dry eye caused by insufficient tear volume, treatments that help retain natural tears on the surface of the eye can provide significant relief.

At Sitterle Vision Source & Dry Eye Center in San Antonio, we offer tear retention therapies including punctal plugs and Lacrifill, both designed to help preserve the eye’s natural tears.

These treatments help improve lubrication of the ocular surface and reduce symptoms such as burning, irritation, and fluctuating vision.

What Are Punctal Plugs?

Punctal plugs are tiny medical devices placed in the tear drainage ducts of the eyelids.

Normally, tears drain from the eye through these small openings called puncta.

Punctal plugs work by partially blocking these openings, which helps tears remain on the surface of the eye longer.

This increased tear retention improves lubrication and reduces dry eye symptoms.

What Is Lacrifill?

Lacrifill is a long-lasting tear duct treatment designed to improve tear retention.

Unlike traditional punctal plugs, Lacrifill involves placing a soft gel-like material within the tear drainage system, where it helps slow tear drainage for an extended period.

This treatment may provide longer-lasting tear retention compared to traditional plugs.

How Tear Retention Treatments Help Dry Eye

Some patients have dry eye because they do not produce enough tears.

This condition is known as aqueous-deficient dry eye.

By slowing tear drainage, treatments such as punctal plugs or Lacrifill allow natural tears to remain on the surface of the eye longer.

Benefits include:

improved eye lubrication
reduced dryness and irritation
improved tear film stability
reduced reliance on artificial tears

What to Expect During Treatment

Punctal plug placement is a quick and comfortable in-office procedure.

During the procedure:

The eye is numbed with anesthetic drops.
The punctal plug is gently inserted into the tear duct opening.

The process typically takes only a few minutes.

Lacrifill treatments are also performed in the office and involve filling the tear drainage system with a soft gel material.

Most patients return to normal activities immediately after treatment.

When Tear Retention Treatments Are Recommended

These treatments are often recommended for patients with:

aqueous-deficient dry eye
chronic dry eye symptoms
irritation that improves with artificial tears
significant tear film instability

In many cases, tear retention therapies are combined with treatments that address meibomian gland dysfunction or inflammation.

Schedule a Dry Eye Evaluation

If dry eye symptoms are affecting your comfort or vision, treatments that improve tear retention may provide significant relief.

Schedule an appointment at Sitterle Vision Source & Dry Eye Center in San Antonio to learn whether punctal plugs or Lacrifill may be right for you.

Learn More About Dry Eye

You can explore additional information about dry eye and its treatments: