anja
I read the responses and I have heard that eye problems and dry eye are associated with liver issues in traditional Chinese medicine.
Also, just FYI, I have worked for ophthalmologists for almost twenty years (front office and now just transcription at home), and the "punctal plugs" are collagen-based (I believe it's collagen) and dissolve over time. I'm not sure if there is a procedure to permanently close the ducts, but I would think that's a bad idea. The idea with the plugs is to keep the tears your body makes in the eye as long as possible, rather than continually draining through the punctal ducts (as they are supposed to).
Obviously it's a band-aid on the symptom, but it's not permanent, since they dissolve. I don't believe in most of the stuff prescribed by the doctors I work for...it's a reliable paycheck I'm not ready to give up despite feeling conflicted about earning a living in the medical industry. Much of what they do is misguided, but they do have their place, I believe. Like with retinal detachments & stuff, they can save a person's vision with surgery, etc. And there are many people who never get into cleansing or healthy lifestyle, and at least they can keep them going blind from diabetes, cataracts, etc.
I've got dry eyes, too, though generally not as bad when I'm cleansing and really working at my diet. I can't wear contacts, though. Not yet, anyway.
Do you know if you sleep with your eyelids cracked open? That would dry them out at night. My left eye doesn't close completely when I'm sleeping, and I do often get a dry spot on the cornea where it's exposed. If you can stand it, you can get some surgical tape and tape the lid(s) closed at night if you think you are getting some "exposure keratopathy."
Good luck!