Clogged Tear Ducts in Babies: What to Do!
One of the most memorable developmental things that we have observed with each of our children as they grow from days, to weeks, to months old is that time when their crying starts to include real tears.
Yes, I’d wager to say that if you’ve never had children of your own you probably thought all babies were born with tearful sobs. But, they don’t. In fact, some babies don’t develop tears when until they are four months old.
Even then, some babies have a problem where their tear ducts are blocked. In these cases, the small tube (or duct) that stretches from the eye into the nose that normally drains tears from the eyes is either clogged or won’t open correctly. What then happens is that this tear duct fills with fluid. This can cause swelling, inflammation and can even become infected.
Are Clogged Tear Ducts Rare?
The problem isn’t as uncommon as you would think, happening in about six percent of infants. In some cases, a baby is just born with their tear ducts blocked. But, the most universal cause is the inability of the small, thin tissue at the end of the tear duct to open correctly. In rare cases it could be an infection that is causing the blockage.
So, how do you know if your child has a blocked tear duct? Well, the first symptom is actually excessive tears. If your baby’s eyes look excessively wet this could be a signal to call your optometrist. Also, if you see redness, swelling, or a yellow mucus build up in the corner of the eye, this should alert you there may be an infection.
Babies born with this condition show symptoms within a few weeks of birth. But, symptoms can also become more pronounced after sickness.
What Should I Do?
The good news is: most babies do not need major treatment. Many blocked ducts clear up on their own by age one. But, parents must be aware of the blockage and help keep the eye clean in order to prevent infection. In some cases, a baby will need to undergo a minor surgery where the doctor will pass a probe through the duct to open it up.
The American Optometric Association recommends that all infants get an eye exam by 6 months of age, so if you think your infant may have this problem, make an appointment to get his or her eyes checked just in case! Find your nearest America’s Best optometrist and schedule an appointment today.
