A newborn's eyes can be problematic. This is normal after birth, but if the following weeks are young and the baby's eyes still have tear pools, help is needed - the baby may have blocked tear ducts. The child does not suffer from it, but the lagging of tears can cause bacterial infections.
Newborns don't crywith tears . The production of tears during the whimpering process does not start until a few weeks after the birth, usually at the end of the first month of life. The tear organ continues to develop until the end of pregnancy and takes time to fully mature. Before giving birth, all the channels that drain tears from the eye are cleared. Sometimes, however, this development is disturbed.
Tears: blocked duct
Tears play a very important role. They are created almost non-stop around the clock to constantly moisturize the eye surface. Without them, serious damage would have quickly occurred. However, on average, in every twentieth infant, when tear production is in full swing, it turns out that the channel at the inner corner where the tears should drain from the eye is blocked. As a result, the tears produced, instead of flowing into the nose, accumulate on the surface of the eyelet. Parents who have heard of an obstructed nasolacrimal canal are wondering how to recognize if their baby is affected. It cannot be overlooked because the little one looks as if he is constantly crying. A pool of tears may be in one or botheyes . Admittedly, the child does not suffer from excess tears and it does not hurt him, but lingering tears can causebacterial infections . When an infection occurs, the previously transparent fluid turns into pus. The eyelids are stuck together with a yellowish, dragging discharge. Gently squeezing the lacrimal sac (located near the inner corner of the eye) causes cloudy or purulent fluid to flow out of the lacrimal points. However, it is worth remembering that not every purulent discharge indicates a blocked nasolacrimal canal. The little one may just have the usual conjunctivitis. That is why it is necessary to visit a doctor, preferably a pediatric ophthalmologist. The doctor will recognize what is causing the problem with the eye and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Sometimes, especially if the infection recurs, a culture of eye discharge is needed.
ImportantTears: where do they come from
It would seem thatthe production of tears is not unusual. Meanwhile, the whole system is in charge of it. The lacrimal gland in which tears form is located above the lateral angle of the upper eyelids. From here, the tears travel to the eye and collect in the inner corner. Then, through the tear ducts, they are drained into the lacrimal sac located medially from the nasal corner of the eye. The tear sac goes down the nasolacrimal canal, which drains the tears into the nasal canal. In some children, the tear ducts that begin at the edge of the eyelid at the inner corner of the eye are blocked. They are closed by a membrane that should break during or shortly after birth. When this does not happen, the natural journey of tears becomes impossible.
Massage can help with obstructed nasolacrimal canal
Antibiotic drops or ointment will cure the infection, but the problem of obstructed nasolacrimal canal remains. If it is still clogged, infections may recur. Therefore, further treatment is necessary. For this purpose, it is already necessary to take the child to a pediatric ophthalmologist (a referral from a family doctor is not needed). First, your doctor will recommend a tear sac massage as a treatment method. It might seem ineffective, but this way it is possible to open the tubule in most babies. The ophthalmologist will explain in detail and show you how to massage the tubule. Before you leave the doctor's office, make sure you know how to do it, because the wrong massage will be a waste of time. The correct massage consists in pressing the finger above the medial angle of the eye and moving the finger along the appropriate side of the nose. Massage must be performed regularly, several times a day. Often, improvement can be noticed after a few or several days. If discharge appears in the pond during the massage, it must be removed with a sterile gauze pad moistened with saline or boiled lukewarm water. When to unblock a small group of children, even after a few months of use, massage does not bring the expected results. The discharge continues to collect in the eye and the inflammation recurs. There is no point in extending such therapy. Then the only method of treatment becomes the procedure of probing the tear ducts. An ophthalmologist is referring them.
Obstruction of the nasolacrimal ducts may lead to blurred vision in children
Video source: newseria.pl
Clearing a blocked tear duct with a probe
It consists in unblocking the canal with a special thin probe. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia (for younger children) or general anesthesia (for older children). The sight of the entire "operation" may arouse concerns in parents, but contrary to appearances, it is not difficult or harmful to the child. The possibility of eye damage is imminentzero, because the tear ducts do not run through the eyeball, but next to it. To reduce the ability of the baby to move, it is usually wrapped tightly in a blanket and held tightly. It is not painful or threatening, but it is necessary for the little one not to fidget and tear. The procedure takes literally a few minutes, although if the tubule has an unusual course, it may be a bit longer. If the sounding was performed under local anesthesia, the child can be taken home after a few hours. After anesthesia, 2-3 days in hospital are required. The obstructive tubule begins to function quickly. The final result can be judged after a few days: tears only flow from the eye when the baby cries.
How to care for a child's eyes with blocked nasolacrimal tubules
1. Rinse watery or festering eyes with a sterile gauze several times a day. Sterile, or germ-free, gauze pads are simply safer. Rinse the eyelets in one motion from the outer to the inner corner of the eye, not the other way around. If it is not possible to thoroughly rinse the child's eyelids in one move, reach for the next one to avoid spreading the bacteria. 2. Use saline in ampoules for washing. Avoid herbal infusions, such as chamomile or firefly, except on the advice of an ophthalmologist. 3. If you haven't used up the entire ampoule of saline at once, throw it away, and open a new one next time. In an ampoule left open for several dozen minutes, bacteria can multiply - and the infection of the eyes is ready. 4. Only use ointments and eye drops if your doctor tells you to. Never use them on your own. This may do more harm than good. In the accompanying leaflet, read how long you can use the drops after opening the package (usually no longer than 2-4 weeks). Follow this rule, otherwise you will easily become infected. 5. If your doctor has recommended a tubular massage, try to diligently follow his recommendations. This is very important because thanks to this you can avoid the procedure of unblocking the tubule. 6. If the massage did not bring the expected results, look for an experienced ophthalmologist who will perform the probing procedure. If the sight of the procedure is beyond your strength, do not try to be in the room with your child at all costs. The little one is safe. It is in professional hands. And the nervous behavior of the parents can disrupt the work of the staff. However, if you feel that you would prefer to accompany and hold your baby, follow the instructions of the staff carefully so that the procedure is completed quickly and efficiently. Then only a mention will remain after him that "the devil is not so scary
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