marketplace
Focus on Punctal Plugs

 

TEARS NATURALE
Alcon

Alcon's Tears Naturale punctal plugs are made of a soft, low-durometer, clear silicone for a more natural, skin-like feel and less noticeability in the eye. The company says the low-profile cap is designed for improved comfort, helping to reduce lid sensation and plug awareness.

The pre-loaded inserter with fingertip control is designed to prevent premature plug insertion.

Phone: (800) 451-3937
www.alconlabs.com

 

 

AQUAFLO
AlphaMed

AlphaMed says the AquaFlo plug represents the latest wave in punctum plug technology. Featuring unique reservoir indentations in the dome, AquaFlo reduces foreign body sensation by trapping tears, therefore reducing surface tension and providing increased comfort for the patient.

AquaFlo is designed to ensure stability upon insertion, yet is pliable upon extraction. AquaFlo plugs are available in four simplified sizes offered in sterile kits (one pair pre-loaded onto inserters), or nonsterile bulk packs (10 pair nonloaded) for maximum economy.

Phone: (866) 734-2020
E-mail: gubachy@alphamedco.com
www.alphamedco.com

 

 

SUPEREAGLE
EagleVision

EagleVision says that the SuperEagle is the most advanced silicone punctum plug available, offering superior patient comfort and retention. It's available in three sizes. The company offers a full range of plugs, including SuperFlex and Flow Controller, all in multiple sizes.

Phone: (800) 222-7584
www.eaglevis.com

 

 

FCI PLUGS
FCI Ophthalmics

FCI offers a complete selection of punctum plugs, with sizes ranging from 0.4-mm Slim to 1.0-mm Large. FCI says its plugs are anatomy-friendly and feature slanted collarettes that hug the natural slant of the eyelid, providing patient comfort and preventing rub-out. The company also offers a 30-day guarantee on pop-outs.

The newer Slim plugs are smaller and slimmer to facilitate insertion into the smallest puncta. FCI also manufactures flow-through plugs for punctal stenosis or to limit tear flow.

Also available from FCI are short-term collagen plugs. Long-term dissolvable plugs will be available soon.

Phone: (800) 932-4202
www.fci-ophthalmics.com

 

 

TEARSAVER
IOLTech

IOLTech's TearSaver silicone plugs have a tapered shaft design that anchors to the puncta for increased patient comfort and less chance of rub-out. The plugs, which are color-coded for easy size identification, are available in sizes from 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm. The TearSaver silicone cap is visible at the lid margin.

IOLTech also offers the TearSaver Plus plug in sizes 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm. The TearSaver Plus is transparent with a virtually invisible cap. The TearSaver Plus is coated with a proprietary polymer, resulting in the plug being bio-insulated.

Both the TearSaver and TearSaver Plus come pre-loaded on a sterile, disposable inserter/dilator.

Phone: (877) 251-8357
www.ioltech.com

 

 

HERRICK LACRIMAL PLUGS
Lacrimedics

Lacrimedics says its patented intracanalicular plugs are comfortable for patients and easy to use. It also points out that punctal dilation, gauging and anesthesia are generally not required, and plugs don't pop out.

The new Dissolvable Opaque Herrick Lacrimal Plug lasts approximately 6 months. It's foil-wrapped to prevent brittleness. For longer-term treatment, Lacrimedics offers nondissolvable silicone Opaque Herrick Lacrimal Plugs in a new blue color. These plugs are pre-mounted and sterile, with peel-off chart labels.

The new Williams Intracanalicular Plug Positioning Tool is designed to make plug positioning simple.

Phone: (800) 367-8327 or (360) 376-7095

E-mail: info@Lacrimedics.com
www.Lacrimedics.com

 

 

SMARTPLUG
Medennium

SmartPLUG is a thermodynamic hydrophobic acrylic polymer designed to enhance ease of insertion and user comfort compared with alternative plug technology.

SmartPLUG conforms to fit different punctal diameters, reducing the need to measure the size of the patient's punctum, and provides a savings to ophthalmologists by diminishing the need to stock inventory.

Medennium says clinical trials showed a less than 1% attrition rate, and that patients report minimal foreign-body sensation due to no external cap.

Phone: (888) 727-6100
E-mail: customerservice@ medennium.com
www.medennium.com

 

 

FORM FIT HYDROGEL
OASIS Medical

The newest plug from OASIS Medical is the Form Fit, a long-term intracanalicular plug made of a hydrogel material that conforms to fit all patients. The plug, upon contacting tear film, expands into a soft, pliable, gelatinous material. It takes less than 10 minutes to become completely hydrated and fill the vertical canalicular cavity. The company says the Form Fit plug has no anchor or cap and can be easily removed by flushing saline solution through the punctal opening.

Form Fit comes pre-loaded on an inserter. The dry plug is 3.0 mm long and 0.3 mm in diameter. It expands to more than 20 times the volume of its original size.

OASIS also offers the Soft Plug line, which includes silicone, collagen, and extended duration plugs.

Phone: (800) 528-9786
E-mail: sales@OasisMedical.com
www.OasisMedical.com

 

 

PARASOL
Odyssey Medical

Odyssey Medical says that its patented Parasol Punctal Occluder has a unique design that is easy to insert and requires little or no dilation. Two sizes (small and medium) fit most patients. Odyssey's 30-day pop-out guarantee means you don't have to worry about accidental loss.

The Parasol is available in three packaging configurations: conventional, sterile pre-loaded; QuickLoad sterile bulk pack; and nonsterile bulk pack. The bulk packs are designed to be used with reusable insertion instruments, providing cost savings to your practice.

New from Odyssey is Extend, an absorbable synthetic punctal implant that provides occlusion for up to 3 months.

Phone: (888) 905-7770
E-mail: info@odysseymed.com
www.odysseymed.com

 

 

ULTRAPLUG
Surgical Specialties

Designed for absorption in 2 to 6 months, Surgical Specialties says its UltraPlug Extended Wear Synthetic Absorbable punctual plug is a true seasonal dry eye solution and ideal for pre-op and post-op LASIK patients.

The UltraPlug line also includes other options. In addition to extended wear, long-term (silicone) and short-term (collagen) plugs are available.

UltraPlug silicone plugs feature a low-profile cap designed to virtually eliminate foreign body sensation and are pre-loaded on sterile inserters. The UltraPlug Dry Eye Management System offers an assortment of punctal plugs, patient education materials, and guidelines for submitting Medicare or private insurance claims.

Phone: (800) 523-3332
E-mail: info@surgicalspecialties.com
www.ultraplugs.com

 

 

OCCU-FLO
U.S. IOL

The OCCU-Flo plug is manufactured from implant quality silicone. The company says its classic design and manufacturing process provides the physician with confidence that the plug will stay securely in place, and ensures comfort for the patient.

Each plug is offered pre-mounted on an inserter to foster ease of implantation. The Occu-Flo plug is available in sizes 0.4 mm (petite), 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, and 0.7 mm.

Phone: (800) 354-7848
E-mail: usiol@aol.com
www.usiol.com

 

More Products & Services

NEW TORIC CONTACT LENS

New from Vistakon is Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism, a toric contact lens featuring Hydraclear technology for patient comfort and Accelerated Stabilization Design for stability and quick fitting.

The Accelerated Stabilization Design is based on research into lens-eyelid interaction. It harnesses the natural pressures of the blinking eye to foster stability and prevent rotation. The company says the lens settles on the eye within 60 seconds.

Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism will be introduced in minus sphere and three cylinder powers in limited axes, but will be available by the end of June from plano to -6D in .25D steps (cylinder -0.75, -1.25, -1.75; axes 10 to 180 in 10-degree steps); from -6.50D to -9D in .50D steps (cylinder -1.25, -1.75; axes 90 and 180 ± 20 [no obliques]); and from +.25D to +6D in .25D steps (cylinder -0.75, -1.25, -1.75; axes 90 and 180 ±20 [no obliques]).

According to Vistakon, the lens' Dk/T of 85 "provides the cornea with virtually 100% of its open-eye oxygen demand." The lens, which is made of galyfilcon A, is available in a 14.5-mm diameter and 8.6-mm base curve and is recommended for 2-week daily wear.

The company says that performance with this lens will be optimized if patients are instructed to rub their lenses with solution each day to prevent lipid build-up, which can occur with silicone hydrogel materials.

www.ecp.acuvue.com

 

LASIK/LASEK APPLANATOR

The Johnston LASIK & LASEK Applanator from Rhein Medical is designed to apply equal outward posterior pressure to the flap for even egress of fluid, enhancing the seating and healing of the flap to the stromal bed and preventing striae. The device is applied to the flap without interference from the speculum, eyelids, or nasal bridge for unencumbered access.

The company says it is ideal for treating postoperative striae, and refloating and repositioning the flap. The instrument is reusable and autoclaveable and available for a 30-day surgical evaluation with no obligation to purchase.

Phone: (800) 637-4346
www.rheinmedical.com

 

SECURE E-MAIL SOFTWARE

With the HIPAA security standards about to go into effect, Einstein Medical has released Secure Med Mail, a system that allows you to create a secure e-mail address for every patient, so that electronic communication takes place in a secure, virtual private network.

Einstein Medical says Secure Med Mail ensures HIPAA compliance and safe transmission and storage of any electronic correspondence, and is easy to use.

Phone: (800) 606-0003
www.einsteinmedical.com