You may notice that your baby wakes up with one eye glued together, constantly having tears on his cheeks even though he is not crying, and discharge from his eyes but no redness, so it is not conjunctivitis.
It is possible that it is an obstruction of the lacrimal or occlusion of the lacrimonasal canal in medical terms. Also called lacrimal duct stenosis , a very common obstruction in newborns that can occur from birth in the first months of life . Both or only one conduit may be obstructed.
Typical symptoms are yellowish mucus and watery eyes . It is a tear disorder that can be congenital or the result of an infection in the nasopharyngeal area. The nasal passage that joins the inside of the eye and the nose becomes narrow or inflamed, leaving the tear duct obstructed.
Lacrimal stenosis is the total or partial obstruction of the small subcutaneous ducts that connect the edge of the inner eyelids (at the inner corner of the eye) with the nose.
When the baby is born, the tear ducts are closed because the glands still produce very little tear fluid. It is around two or three months of life when they open spontaneously to allow the passage of tears.
The problem arises when the channels are very narrow and easily clogged or due to the malfunction of the Hasner valve responsible for the passage of tears into the nose.
What to do about lacrimal duct stenosis
In most cases, performing a so-called “hydrostatic” massage daily and with correct hygienic standards is enough to unblock it. It is a type of massage that is performed with the intention of stimulating the opening of that valve. If not, you have to follow another type of treatment.
How to do it? Exert light pressure with the tip of the little finger from the tear duct towards the nose, repeating on both sides a minimum of five times a day.
Hygiene is also extremely important. You should wash his eyes several times a day with a different pad for each eye soaked in physiological solution.
The pediatrician may prescribe an antibiotic eye drops but we must bear in mind that if the tamponade or narrowing of the tear duct continues, the discharge will be momentarily reduced, but the inflammation reappears as soon as the product is no longer applied.
Is it necessary to intervene?
If despite strictly performing this type of massage on your baby for a few months the tear has not been unblocked, you should go to the pediatric ophthalmologist who will tell you what is the best treatment to follow, although many doctors recommend not doing anything until the first year of life .
If the problem persists, the most common is to carry out a catheterization , which is a very simple small intervention without risks or hospitalization.
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In Babies and more | Conjunctivitis in the newborn baby
