title: Management of acquired punctal stenosis with perforated punctal plugs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficiency of perforated punctal plug in acquired punctal stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five eyes of 33 patients who had epiphora due to punctal stenosis were included in this study. After biomicroscopic examination and lacrimal dilatation punctal stenosis was managed with the perforated punctal plugs in all patients. In the following period epiphora, plug tolerance, lacrimal drainage were evaluated and graded. Lacrimal drainage was evaluated with fluorescein dye disappearing test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age of the patients ranged between 31 and 80 (mean 55.78 ± 13.11). Preoperatively punctal dilatation and lacrimal system irrigations were performed on all patients. Lacrimal system irrigation was positive in all patients. Perforated punctal plugs were placed in the inferior puncti in all patients. The plugs were explanted 6 months after operation. The follow-up period ranged between 6 and 24 months. Plug tolerance was good in 97.8% of the eyes in the 1st month visit. Epiphora decreased remarkably in 88.9% of the patients 1 month after plug implantation, except one whose plug dropped off spontaneously in 2 weeks. Fluorescein disappearing times were found under 3 min in 97.8% of the eyes after plug explanations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Punctum stenosis is one of the several disorders that cause lacrimal drainage obstruction. Perforated punctal plugs are found convenient and effective in managing punctal stenosis.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Ozlen Rodop
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Ozgur
authors.affiliation: Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Akcay
authors.affiliation: Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Nesrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tutas
authors.affiliation: Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karadag
keywords: Epiphora; Perforated plug; Punctal stenosis