Blocked Tear Duct or Dacrostenosis

Tears are formed at the outer corner of the eye and they travel across the eye to moisturize it. Then they go into the tear duct at the inner corner of the eye, near the nose, and into the nose. The tear duct is a very, very small hole. In newborns, the tear duct is a tiny opening that can get clogged up quite easily. Once it is clogged, the tears have no exit and back up in the eye causing a goopy discharge that can be easily seen. The discharge can also prevent the newborn from opening the eyelid fully. The tear duct tends to open up spontaneously at nine months of age.
Until then, a simple massage can be done to keep the duct open daily and prevent the discharge. Using your index finger with nails clipped short, place it between the eye and the nose and then while pushing down, drag your finger towards the end of the nose. Do this massage on the affected side 10 times in the morning and 10 times in the evening. The massage gently 'pops' the tear duct open and prevents the goopy discharge. By preventing the discharge, you can prevent the need for antibiotics and possibly the need for surgery.
Schedule an appointment with East Cobb Pediatrics to be seen for a sick visit and for a simple demonstration of the massage if you feel that your newborn has a blocked tear duct.

By Shefali Chheda, MD