Sticky eyes

[Nominic]

My daughter is 3 weeks old and for the last 2 weeks, she has had a gooey eye and often has blobs of what look to me like sleep in the corner. The health visitor did a brief distance appointment and told me to call the GP about it, which I did and he prescribed Chloramphenicol over the phone. Once I received the prescription I noticed that it said from 2 years on it and there were articles online about how it can cause something called "grey baby syndrome". This is why it's not given to babies because it can cause death!!
I didn't give her the ointment and instead have been cleaning the eye with cooled boiled water. I read that sticky eyes are common and usually the result of a blocked tear duct and that if it were conjunctivitis, the eye would be red. However, as I cannot get a face to face appointment with any professionals at the moment, I was wondering if anyone had any knowledge/experience or advice regarding this. I'm feeling anxious that there's something more I should be doing! TIA

My dad had conjunctivitis on and off for about three weeks when she was a couple of months old

Just squirted breast milk in her eye and it cleared up, don't know if that's an option

Ew Ew Ew

DD NOT DAD

My LO who is 13 weeks now also had this around 2/3 weeks old, exactly what you’re describing. I just wiped away with cooled boiled water like what you are doing. I did this throughout the day.
It takes a few days of doing this but it does clear up.

@Theweasleytwins that’s quite the image .

OP there are loads of old wives tales for sticky eyes. I’ve had four children, I have tried them all!

The best thing is the steroid drops you must have, although as you point out they will only work if it’s a bacterial infection. In my limited experience GP’s don’t give them out easily so you must have put a compelling case for an infection.

Next best is breast milk, from boob to eye or boob to cup to eye. I could never bring myself to squirt directly from boob to eye. Felt weird.

Then cooled boiled water.
Then cooled boiled water with salt.
Then a cooled tea bag.

Good luck

Thank you for all advice. I will give the breast milk a try and stick to cleaning it regularly.

Definitely use breast milk. I always used on my 3 kids - (and me) , magic stuff!

Very common. My ds had it at same age, hv advices cooled boilled water wipe inside to outside then use a new bit of cotton wool. It cleared up after 5 days or so

Chloramphenicol given systemically (oral or intravenous) is linked to this severe complication. However almost none of the drug is absorbed when applied to the eye, so it is considered safe in newborns by this route. For example in Special Care Baby Units it is given pretty readily for persistent sticky eyes.

Most sticky eyes in babies are from blocked tear ducts rather than bacterial infection anyway so regular cleaning as you are doing is the most important thing.

Thank you for this information. I wish the Doctor had explained this to me!

Yes, regular cleaning is the way to go. Most babies don't need drops for a slightly sticky eye, although they may if the eye is red or inflamed.

Some of the drug is absorbed into the blood stream after putting it into the eye, but you can reduce the amount by occluding the puncta. Basically pressing down on the little drainage duct on the lower lid near the nose.

Cooled, boiled water and cotton balls are best, using a separate ball for each eye.
I don't recommend breast milk as you could unwittingly give your baby thrush in their eyes if you were unaware that you had it. Candida eye infections are very nasty!