Punctal occlusion is a painless procedure in which small plugs are inserted into the puncta. The puncta are the openings in the corners of the eyes that allow tears to drain. By blocking the puncta, the amount of tears in the eye increases and keeps the eye moist and clean. Instead of plugging the gland that produces tears, a punctual plug simply plugs the area in which tears drain, so your eyes remain comfortable and your vision is clear. A punctual occlusion can be performed with either temporary or permanent punctal implants. Temporary punctal implants dissolve anywhere from 7 days or three months, while permanent punctal implants do not dissolve but can be removed if necessary. Punctal occlusion serves as the next best option when other medications or artificial tears fail to control the symptoms of dry eye.