Can permanent punctal plugs replace using restasis eye drops? thank you!

Not usually: Depending on the severity of your dry eye, multiple types of treatment are often used. Restasis works differently than plugs; thus; they were synergistically to help your problem. Restasis increases your tear production, the plugs help to keep your tears around longer so they do not drain away as quickly.

No: While plugs increase the retention of your tears by closing off the drainage ducts, they don't affect the underlying inflammatory disease, namely dry eye syndrome. In other words, your dry eye disease may continue to progress with the use of plugs alone. Restasis treats the underlying inflammatory condition, both helping to increase tear production and slow progression of the disease.