PUNCTUM DILATING AND PUNCTUM PLUG INSERTION INSTRUMENT

摘要

A dilating and plug inserting instrument includes a tubular body having at each of its ends a punctum plug mount and a mechanism for individually releasing the plugs therefrom. In addition, the instrument includes removable clear dilating caps provided over the plug mounts which in addition to permitting dilation of the punctum provides a protective enclosure for the plug until the cap is removed. A method is also provided for dilating a punctum and inserting a plug using a single instrument without necessitating using opposite ends of the instrument. An advantageous packaging system is also provided for the instrument/plug system.