Literature search highlights pros, cons of various lacrimal drainage plugs for dry eye

Lacrimal drainage plugs improve the signs and symptoms of moderate dry eye and are well tolerated in eyes that do not benefit from topical lubrication, according to 27 level 2 and 3 studies culled from the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases.The report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which appeared in Ophthalmology, was generated because of the widespread prevalence of dry eye. “For example, overall dry eye affects about 15% of adults,” lead author Marcus M. Marcet, MD, FACS, a clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Hong Kong, said. “And in an ophthalmology clinic, it is often the most common presenting concern for patients.”