The main things to remember with punctal plugs are: (1) Many people can be helped by them but they are not appropriate for all situations; and (2) They are a tool, not a solution.

We cannot tell you any rules about plugs. Generally speaking, they "ought" to be most effective for people whose primary problem is an aqueous deficiency (i.e. people who test very low on Schirmer’s). However, we know people who do not have an aqueous deficiency who benefited, and people who had a serious aqueous deficiency who not only did not benefit at all but found them absolutely intolerable. The only thing you can do is try.

We strongly suggest that anyone thinking of getting punctal plugs try the collagen plugs first (see our page on types of punctal plugs).

Will your tears overflow? It's ltogether possible, and in fact they even have a fancy term for it — epiphora. (Now you can really impress your doctor by asking about epiphora before he even puts the plugs in, rather than give him the satisfaction of explaining it to you after you get it.) This is one of the reasons why it makes sense to try collagen plugs before permanent plugs.