blocked tear duct in 4 year old

[twolittlekings]

Took DS today to an opthalmic surgeon because I've noticed he has had an intermittent watery eye. GP thought I was overreacting but turns out he has a blockage of the tear duct. She wants to do a minor op to see what's causing this and to unblock it.

I've looked on the net and whilst it seems to be common. In babies it's not so common in older kids. I'm now panicking thinking of sinister reasons why it's blocked.

He had a while back no years coming out but now it's intermittent. The yellow dye shows the film is greater on the right eye indicating lack of drainage.

Ds is small and has permanent nasal problems - he's a mouth breather and I'm hoping it's just because his passages are all very small. But why has it started now and not been from birth. The doctor doesn't seem worried but I'm a bit nervous of not only the procedure but why it's happening.

Has anyone else had this on an older child?

Thanks

Bump

Anyone? :(

Hi. Yes, this started with ds when he was 6/7. The initial op why he was awake stopped it for about 18 moths but it is back. We are due to see the consultant again as it looks like it will have to be operated on.

It is very unusual in older children. But ds is now fed up of it and wants to see what the operation entails, as his only options were put up with it and see what happens or go in under a general anaesthetic so they can try and unblock it.

I can't really help much, but assure you that it's not turned into anything sinister

I had a blocked tear duct at the age if 34 so it's not exclusive to babies. I need surgery to repair it but there was no sinister reason for it, they think it was probably scarring from an infection.

I had it as a small child, I remember the tear running down my face. I think it was intermittent for a while, and then went away, I have no memory of any procedure being done but will ask my Mum. I do vaguely remember it was due to small tubes. My DB had very narrow sinuses and had them drilled when he was about 9, so maybe that is connected. I am sorry to be vague, it was a long time ago (I'm 49, so about 45 years).