Blocked Tear Duct In Newborns – Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

If a tear duct is blocked or does not open, then the tears have a problem draining from the eye. As a result, the duct may be filled with fluid and can become swollen, inflamed, or even get infected. This is common in around 20% of newborn babies and usually clears up within a year after birth.

Causes Of Blocked Tear Ducts In Newborns

The following are a few causes of blocked tear ducts in newborns:

1. Malformations of The Face And Skull

If the nasal bone of your baby is not developed normally, it can put pressure on the tear duct causing an obstruction and blockage. Even in situations in which the nasal cavity or other parts of the face have some kind of abnormality, it can cause blockage of the tear duct.

2. Injuries That Happen on The Face

If some kind of injury happens on the face of your baby, it can cause a blocked tear duct

3. Inflammation or Infections

Bacterial infections like cellular debris and white blood cells can bring about swelling due to inflammation and can cause blockage of the baby’s tear duct

4. Congenital Malformations

A blocked tear duct is a very common occurrence in around six out of a hundred babies and one of the most common culprits behind this is an underdeveloped tear duct. In the majority of cases, a thin film of tissue obstructs the tear duct opening and as the little one grows, this flap of this tissue just disappears and clears the opening of the tear duct

5. Heredity

Blocked tear ducts may run in the families too.

Symptoms Of Blocked Tear Ducts In Babies

One of the most noticeable symptoms is “increased tearing” which triggers the tears to flow onto the face and cheek. Normally this becomes quite noticeable a couple of weeks after the baby is born. Often tears dry up and turn crusty. Other signs are:

• The presence of pus in the little one’s eyes makes them stick together in such a way the baby finds it difficult to open his eyes.
• Tears turn to be extremely thick and even crusty.
• Green or yellow discharge that is constant right through the day.
• The eyes or area near the nose appear to be red or swollen because the tears do not get drained properly due to an infection.
• The symptoms of a blocked tear duct may worsen if the baby is recovering from an upper respiratory infection. Other factors that make the symptoms worse include wind, cold weather, and sunlight.

Diagnosing Blocked Tear Ducts In Babies

If your baby has symptoms of blocked tear ducts, then the doctor may recommend the following tests.

• Specific eye stains to examine how the tears get drained.
• Eye examination
• In rare conditions, an X-ray may be recommended in order to clearly examine the condition of the tear duct.

How To Prevent Tear Ducts In Babies?

In newborns, blocked ducts are often the consequence of the membrane failing to open when the baby is first born. There is no effective method to stop this from taking place at this time.

You may, however, keep an eye out for any signs affecting your child. Always be careful to avoid smoking in the presence of your child, and never allow smoking inside your home. Smoke, along with other possible dangers such as dry air, may irritate your baby’s nasal passages and make the symptoms of a blocked nose worse. Dry air is another potential danger.

Treating Blocked Tear Ducts In Newborns

The treatment for a blocked tear duct depends on what triggers the blockage of the tear duct. The majority of the cases of blocked tear ducts resolve on their own without the need for medical intervention. Simple remedies include:

• Always keep your baby’s eyes clean and wipe away any drainage with a clean cotton or cloth.
• Keep a moist and warm piece of cloth on the baby’s eyes and massage the eyes very gently, especially towards the inner corner of the nose where the tear ducts are present to help clear the blockage.
• Massage along with warm compress helps to prevent fluid buildup in the duct.
• If the eyes seem infected, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic eye ointment or eye drops to take care of the infection.
• Dipping a ball of cotton in a solution of saline or even plain water and wiping the little one’s eyes from inside towards the outer part of the eyes is also recommended. Ensure that you use a fresh piece of cotton for each eye
• In case this issue does not get resolved by itself, even after six months, the best thing is to consult an ophthalmologist. He may either advise a simple surgical procedure or may recommend waiting for another six months.
• Probing and even flushing after dilating the eyes is another technique used to help clear the blocked tear duct. This procedure is generally done after giving general anesthesia in order to clear the tear duct in case the duct does not open even after a year.
• One of the popular home remedies for blocked tear ducts is the use of breast milk. Putting a couple of drops of breast milk in your baby’s eyes a couple of times a day is found to be quite effective in reducing the discharge and also averting any kind of eye infections that normally crops up due to blocked tear ducts.
• Make sure you do not expose your baby to conditions like wind, cold, and sunlight for a long time.
• Ensure that you wash your hands before and after touching your baby’s eye area.

When Should You Consider To See A Doctor?

Despite all you care and remedies, if the issue doesn’t seem to resolve, do see a doctor. If your baby seems to be uncomfortable or having symptoms of infection such as fever, do take your baby to the pediatrician immediately.

Blocked tear ducts in newborns is a fairly common problem. If your baby appears to have symptoms of blocked tear ducts, do take thehelp of home remedies. In case the issue persists, taking your baby to the doctor may be the need of the hour

FAQ’s

1. Do Block Tear Ducts Hurt Babies?

Even though their eyes are wet, a clogged tear duct does not normally cause much pain in a newborn. The tissues around the tear duct are seldom infected as a result of a tear duct obstruction. If this occurs, you may see a hard bump around the inner corner of your baby’s eye.

2. Does Breast Milk Help With Clogged Tear Duct?

A few drops of breast milk might assist in clearing your baby’s clogged tear duct. Try putting a drop or two of breast milk straight into your baby’s closed eyes; when they open their eyelids, the milk will drip into the eyes and help to clean out clogged tear ducts. Apply this therapy many times each day for a week or two, or until their tear ducts have healed.

3. How Long Do Block Tear Ducts Last In Newborns?

When the membrane within the tear duct opens up, a clogged tear duct normally resolves on its own. This normally occurs by the time your infant is a year old.

4. Can Block Tear Duct Cause Blindness?

A clogged tear duct may cause significant pain, decreased vision, and an increased risk of infection.