Tear Duct Blockage

[Mattu]

My 11 day old newborn has had blocked tear ducts from day 1. We try to keep them clean with cotton wool dipped in cool boled water, but it still persists. When ever she cries which is all the time she gets watery eyes and they become yellow and sticky. Is there any home remedie anyone could suggest to sort this out?

I am worried all this cleaning will irritate her eyes as they are a little inflamed today n some skin around a bit red. We did show it to a pediatrician but they did not seem concerned and didn't give anything for it.

hello, mum of 5 here! 2 of my DS's had the same problem. Both born with it. My first born i really worried about, but my mum told me my sister had the same thing too. It can look a little unsightly and cotton wool and boiled water is the best for keeping clean. Also taking them out on a cold or windy day made it worse. Always had a clean muslin at hand. If around the eye is getting sore, vaseline helps to protect the skin. Occasionally we would get some drops, as it was more prone to infection (chromphenicol) but not very often. It's actually really common and mine both grew out of it by the time they were a year but I can't remember exactly when. It just becomes part of the routine. I was offered some homepathic drops to put in water when I bathed the eye, but didn't find it made much difference. If it starts to look blood shot then pop to the dr for some drops, but otherwise try not to panic. I know it looks alarming especially when they can't open their eye but it's not damaging to their sight just another worry for us mums!

Thank you! I am a first time mum, and worrying seems to be my middle name right now. I will continue to monitor and keeping them clean, thanks for your message. Very reassuring.

even 5th time mums worry!!! Take care x

Squirt breast milk into eyes. I promise it works....

Thanks will try.

This happened to my DS who is now 4. He had a gunky eye for first 6 months of his life and every gp we went to said don't worry, squirt BM, clean etc. the paed that I paid good money to go see said 'gently rub the tear duc - the bit just by the bridge of the nose and the eye'. I did that. And his eye has not been gunky since.

One of my ds' tear ducts was blocked until he was about 8 months old. It's not a problem unless it gets infected (a squirt of Breastmilk can head off infection, although sometimes antibiotic ointment can be necessary). Massaging gently up from the nose to the corner of the eye can help to keep the tear duct clear and might possibly rupture the membrane preventing fluid from draining onto the nose. Gently is the operative word here!

It sounds as though you are making things worse with too much cleaning. The vast majority of blockages resolve themselves within a few months - only if you got past 12 months might they consider intervening.

In conclusion...it's only really a problem for photographs :o

My DS had this until he was about 10 months. Apparently the tear duct is created by a sort of column of cells that disintegrate to leave the tube/duct. If the tube has not fully formed, it gets blocked very easily and gunky. So basically it's just a growth thing that disappears over time. DS never got an infection (the actual eye goes pink) although I often had to say to people "blocked tear duct, not infectious conjunctivitis" and it does get tricky/a bit dull cleaning them all the time.

I was also given the advice to put your little finger into the inside corner of the eye and massage it because that can help break down the cells, but I was told this when the corner of his eye was absolutely tiny and I didn't dare try in case I scratched him! Was given the same advice months later and did try then as he was a bit bigger and less delicate and it got better around that time. Even now, a couple of years on, the gunkiness sometimes come back when he has a nasty cold.

A practical tip - don't buy big expensive cotton wool balls - our 99p shop had little cheapo Malteser-sized cotton wool balls - much better value when you have to do one swipe and throw it away!

Hope this helps :)

You've had lots of useful replies....

Just wanted to add. BM only works when their is infection of the eye itself. The eye would be bloodshot. The tear duct will likely open up over time.

I work in an eye clinic and they dont operate on blocked tear ducts before 12months.

Just do as you are doing but try not to over do-it! And as 5babyangels said some vaseline will help stop irritation from the rubbing and exposure.