Blocked tear duct

[dueat44]

My DD (now 13 w) has a blocked tear duct (at least, that is the current thinking). Her eye was 'shiny' at birth and now runs with tears more or less constantly; this can make the skin around her eye very sore by the end of the day. She is more prone to gunkiness, also, and though our GP was pretty certain that they eye is not infected, he has given antibiotic ointment twice to make sure.

Does anyone have any experience of this? Do most blockages resolve???? No-one seems very concerned about it, but she is still very young and I suppose they want to wait and see to some extent.

Hello!

We had a lot of this when my DD (2) was tiny. She was constantly getting infected eyes as well as a result of it. The doctor ended up referring her to hosp where they decide to "probe" her tearducts under general anasthetic. Not at all as scary as it sounds. But they wouldn't consider doing it until she was at least one.
If you're worried, I would keep going back to the GP for advice.

My ds1 had a really gunky eye at about this age which took us ages to resolve. A few things I'd suggest:

1. Be really persistent and careful about cleaning it - this is what really sorted ds1's eye in the end. Use cotton wool balls and cool boiled water, one wipe only with each, and do it often.

2. Apparently if it is a blocked duct, stroking the side of the nose firmly a few times regularly can unpop it. I think it sometimes doesn't pop open properly of its own accord after birth (you know how newborns don't cry tears for a while?), and this can help if that's the problem.

3. A squirt of breastmilk in the corner of the eye is apparently very good at fighting infections. DS1 was mostly ff so I didn't try this one myself, and ds2 hasn't had the misfortune so can't vouch for it, but worth a try if 1 and 2 don't sort it.

Good luck!

DS3 has had this since birth in one eye. I THINK it has finally resolved itself at 17 weeks. I was told to massage the corner of the eye/bridge of the nose, gently but firmly, ten times, several times a day. Also to squirt in breast milk. Despite all the careful cleansing with cotton wool and boiled water, I think it has eventually opened with the passing of time.

Thanks all!

Sorry to be so long responding, but we have been on holiday for a week - and i THINK there has been some improvement while we were away. Here's hoping. I will definitely try the breastmilk too.

dueat xxx