watery eye

I just had a baby who has been diagnosed with a blocked tear duct. it has been very frustrating. I continue to massage the eye and wipe it with a warm cloth but nothing seems to work..the eye just keeps running. the doc says it should clear up, but when? i just want my baby to be healthy. are there any full proof methods i can use?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Nothing in life and medicine is "fool-proof".  Since irrigating and probing a tear duct requires general anesthesia and since most in fact do clear up by 6 months of age most pediatricians and ophthalmologists recommend waiting. My grandchild had this condition and it opened by itself at about age 4-5 months.

Often antibiotic eye drops and downward massage over the tear sac are used to reduce the discharge and use hydrostatic pressure to pop the membrane open that blocks the tear duct.

In some cases of extreme irritation or infection within the sac the probing is done earlier. You will need to discuss this with an ophthalmologist.

JCH III MD

[AnnaE]

I am not a doctor. I am a community leader here. I have a lot of experience helping eye patients, especially me.

Welcome to our community.

Write back if your need to.

I hope your baby is better soon.

Anna (a mother)