Abstract:  Candiculor plugs have advantages such as no foreign body sensation, good fixation, and aesthetic concealment, making them an important method for treating moderate to severe dry eye disease. Materials of candiculor plugs are mainly divided into non-degradable and degradable types. Degradable materials have become a research focus due to their good biocompatibility and no need for removal. However, they still face challenges such as short retention time and insufficient stability. In recent years, the function of candiculor plugs has expanded from simply physically blocking the lacrimal passage to serving as a carrier with drug sustained-release function. This provides a new therapeutic approach for chronic ophthalmic diseases such as glaucoma and dry eye disease. Despite broad prospects, current studies still have limitations including small sample sizes and short follow-up periods. This article reviews the material properties, clinical applications, and research progress of candiculor plugs, aiming to provide references for their further clinical application.

Key words: Lacrimal plugs, Dry eye disease