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Persistent eye infections due to blocked tear duct

5 replies

Loueytb3 · 01/01/2012 20:37

DS3 has a blocked tear duct in one eye and it has been more or less constantly infected since birth. Initially they swabbed and said it wasnt infected so he had no treatment. I went back a month later as it was still gungy and they repeated that it wasn't infected as the eye was white despite the gunge coming out of it and didn't swab it. Took him back again as he had a sore patch where it had been continually weeping and was given antibiotic cream. Dr swabbed it then and phoned a couple of days later to say it was infected and put him on oral antibiotics. After a week the infection had gone, but one week later it was back and we were given drops. Cleared up again, but today it has returned, a week after we finished the drops.

Every Dr I have seen has said that they wouldn't refer him to opthalmology until he was a year old because the tear duct opens in the majority of children by then. However, I am concerned about the constant infections - he is 7 months old tomorrow and its still a long time to go to 12 months. I will have to go to the GP drop in tomorrow as our practice is shut and I'm not sure if they will just fob me off with more antibiotics. I'm just wondering if anyone has had this problem and what the outcome was.

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4nomore · 01/01/2012 21:34

My son was like that as a baby and then by 18 months was largely over it. For years his eyes were normal but in the last year or so (he's now 6) he seems to have sensitive eyes, could be allergies or something, not sure if it's linked in any way.

Loueytb3 · 01/01/2012 22:37

Did the Drs do anything about it? DS3's eye is also more shut due to persistent swelling in his eyelid and I'm worried it might stay like that if it continues much longer

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4nomore · 02/01/2012 07:58

Doctor took no interest at all! Prescribed drops and cream and just said that some babies are like that and it should go away. Have to say that he didn't get much swelling, mostly just wateriness and gunk

Kirst16 · 02/01/2012 08:14

My DS2 had exactly the same problem, but we were fortunate enough to get a referral from a GP to an opthalmologist. Whilst the opthamologist would not take any action, he was able to give some useful exercises which involved massaging the area where the tear duct is, which encoraged the duct to open. I am happy to say that the problem resolved itself when just before he turned 10 months and DC2 has had no issues since.

Loueytb3 · 02/01/2012 12:34

First GP showed us how to do the massage but it hasn't made any difference. Last GP we saw queried the advice re massage and suggested it wasn't effective Hmm. My HV has already said she would refer him to opthalmology but we held off while he was on antibiotics in case they sorted it. Its interesting that the person you saw also didn't do anything. At least it sounds as though we are getting the right advice, as annoying as it is.

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