title: Perforated punctal plug in the treatment of partial punctal stenosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epiphora is a common finding among elderly patients. Common etiologies of epiphora include lid-globe appositional abnormalities, ocular surface disorders, and lacrimal excretory obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient reported with symptoms of unilateral, nonpainful epiphora. The cause was determined to be punctal stenosis and the patient was managed with a perforated punctal plug.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Punctal stenosis is one of several disorders that may cause a lacrimal excretory obstruction. Common methods of treatment include repeated dilation and irrigation, as well as various surgical procedures described in the literature. Eye care practitioners should be aware of the availability of perforated punctal plugs and their usefulness in treatment of the partially stenosed punctum.
authors.affiliation: James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Mountain Home, Tennessee 37684, USA. hal.bohlman@med.va.gov
authors.forename: Hal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bohlman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism