Eye: Common Paediatric Eye Problems /

Blocked Naso-lacrimal duct: sticky eyes in baby

01 In Brief

Around 50% of infants have sticky eyes in the first 2-3 months. It is usually due to infected tears which pool in the eye and can not drain into tiny tear ducts which have not completely formed.

02 What Do I Need To Know?

Knowledge of the normal anatomy of the tear or nasolacrimal duct in infants helps you understand why it is so common in newborns. Tears are formed in the lacrimal gland under the upper eyelid and lubricate the eye. They then drain into tiny canals or canaliculi into the nose.

In newborns the canuliculi are often not completely open at birth or become clogged up. This leads to pooling of tears in the eye. Skin organisnms then infect thet tears leading to a stcky eye. The white of the eye is not infected or red and the baby seems unconcerned about it. In additon nose trauma during birth may exacerbate the problem.

 

Manage simply by wiping away the infected tears with sterile salt and water or use breast milk which is not only sterile but also contains many anti infective proteins.

Sometimes symptoms persist beyond 12 months or are particularuily troublesome, in which case probing of the duct under general anaesthetic may be considered.

03 What Others Say

  • Patient .co.uk
Tear Duct Blockage in Babies
  • American Association for Pediatric Opthalmology and Strabismus

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction

 

 

The information published here has been reviewed by Flourish Paediatrics and represents the available published literature at the time of review.
The information is not intended to take the place of medical advice.
Please seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
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Last updated: 22/11/2013