Blocked Tear Duct Baby: At-Home Treatments
Blocked tear duct in newborn babies can cause problems if precautions are not taken. Since this seemingly simple problem can sometimes be developmental and sometimes due to infection, treatment should be continued under the supervision of a doctor until results are obtained.
What is blocked tear duct in babies?
The fluid produced by the lacrimal gland in infants passes into the lacrimal sac, from which the fluid that reaches the tear duct flows into the nasal cavity. When obstructions occur in the tear duct due to various reasons, tears begin to accumulate in the eye. The tears that cannot pass through the duct flow from the eyes to the cheeks. This can cause many problems, from the eye to infection.
Blocked tear duct in infants is common, especially in newborns. Although it usually goes away on its own, it can cause infections and many problems if not intervened at the right time.
Why does it happen?
There can be many reasons why the tear duct is blocked. It may occur due to infections, traumas, lacrimal stones, sinusitis, systemic inflammatory diseases and tumors. Another factor is congenital blockages. It is the incomplete formation of eye canals during the development of the baby in the mother’s womb. Most of the time, the baby is born without puncturing the membrane where the tear sac opens into the nose.
Symptoms
- Watering
- Redness
- Burrring
Swelling on the sides of the root of the nose - Inflammation of the eye.
Is it seen in every baby, is it dangerous?
Tear occlusion, which is seen in 6% of newborn babies, occurs due to the reasons mentioned above. Most parents, noticing symptoms such as redness and burring in the baby’s eye, apply to the doctor.
However, if these symptoms are ignored and neglected, very serious problems can be invited in the baby. Because unless treated, the lacrimal sac and tear ducts become vulnerable to germs. This can lead to inflammation and damage to the eye, lid and other tissues around it. Moreover, the inflammation can spread and cause meningitis and kidney diseases.
The first effective method is regular massage
Massage is the first preferred method for removing tear duct obstruction in infants. In this method, 5-minute massages are made 4-5 times a day, 10 times. Massage is applied by pressing lightly from the lacrimal sac to the nasal wall from the root of the nose down. In addition, the eyes of the baby are cleaned 2-3 times a day with warm water. If burrs continue, antibiotic eye drops given by the doctor can be used.
Solution for blockages that do not go away with massage; probing
If massage applied regularly does not give a positive result after one year, then it may be necessary to resort to surgical methods. For this, probing, which takes an average of 3 minutes, is applied. General anesthesia is given to the baby, and the upper end of the tear duct is entered with an instrument called a probe, and the obstruction at the lower end of the duct is removed.