sticky sticky sticky eyes

[hairtwiddler]

DD was nearly not allowed to go to nursery today because they thought her teary, sleepy eye was conjunctivitis. Her eyes are not red, sore or itchy but she usually wakes up with them caked in 'sleep' - yellow, sticky gunk that sticks to her eyelashes. It's a bit of a pain to get off, but usually hot water and cotton wool does it. (suspect DH didn't do a very thorough face wash this morning!). She's also frequently got teary eyes, so people think she's upset when she's not.
I've never really thought much about this, but nursery seemed to think it was a bit odd. Anyone else have similar problem? I think she's just got sensitive eyes like me, but is it really that unusual?
Thanks for any replies!

Nobody? Oh well, here's a mildly curious bump.

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DD had one eye like this until she was two. It's blocked tear ducts I think. You could try gently massaging the tear duct at the corner of the eye - but they should unblock at some point. Failing that I was told there was a minor procedure that could be performed to unblock them.

Thanks yp, would think that if it had been passed on to me or DD, of if she'd spread it round in younger class at nursery, but I think the blocked tear ducts suggested by roobie are more likely.
Do you think it's worth a gp visit or ask health visitor? Would it be a referral to eye hospital?

Take her to the GP.

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Been doing a bit of googling, I think this is what Roobie is talking about sticky watery eyes

although the chances or a two year old letting me massage her tear duct is minimal!
Am now feeling quite bad that I never thought this was a problem . She's had sticky eyes for as long as I can remember...

same here dd had one eye like this from being new born until recently and some mornings it's still a bit sticky and it's so hard to clean it out of eye lashes

nurserys should just take your word for it next they'll be asking you for a docs note confirming it isnt an infection

Have made non-urgent gp appointment for a few weeks. Will ask trusted GP what she thinks about tear duct thing. Can't say I feel too happy about small op for something I don't find a big problem...

i just got told when i went with dd that i was just to keep bathing it and it should sort itself out

they'll prob just say they;ll keep an eye on it

my 4month old ds gets this and i just bathe his eye with cooled boiled water. the gp says its a blocked tear duct that will eventually clear itself. it doesnt bother him and even if i dont wash it first thing, the crusts usually fall off by themselves.

Are you certain its not conjunctivitis? DD has it now and there is only discharge, no soreness or redness. Unlike the version I have... Why don't you get some antib drops and see if it clears up? It can linger for a while esp if its viral rather than bacterial.

My Ds has had this since birth. The doctor insisted we give him antibiotics which did not clear it at all (we used the whole course). It hasn't spread to anyone and its only ever in one eye. Is definitely not conjunctivitus in our case.

Now am not sure! Thought if conjuntivitis she would spread it to others in nursery and at home, but maybe not?
Nursery have taken my word for it when I said it wasn't conjuntivitis, but now am wondering whether it might be. She'd be a nightmare to get drops into.
Will see what doc says, and in the meantime wipe with cooled boiled water I think. Today she's fine - no stickiness at all.