One in 20 Newborns Have Tear Duct Obstruction

Yeditepe University Eye Center Ophthalmologist Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlke Bahçeci Şimşek stated that one out of every 20 newborns has tear duct obstruction and said, “In infants with clogged tear ducts, eye-watering, yellow-green discharge, burrs, and sticking of the lids can be seen.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şimşek, in her statement, said that constant watering of the eyes and tear duct obstruction can often be seen in early childhood.

Şimşek stated that these problems can be corrected with the right treatment, and that watering is often due to congenital tear duct obstruction, but it can also be caused by allergies or congenital glaucoma.

Emphasizing that obstruction can be seen in 5 percent of newborns, but this obstruction opens with the first cry after birth in approximately 90 percent of babies, while it remains closed in some of them, Şimşek made the following statements:

“One out of every 20 newborns has a tear duct obstruction. In infants with clogged tear ducts, eye-watering, yellow-green discharge, burrs, and sticking of the lids can be seen. Complaints increase when the infant has sniffles or in cold and windy weather. In severe cases, infection of the tear sac called dacryocystitis may develop.”

Glaucoma May Be the Cause of Eye Watering

Pointing out that in addition to eye-watering in children, being disturbed by light and having one or both eyes larger than normal may be a sign of "glaucoma" (eye pressure), Şimşek continued:

“Conditions such as foreign body in the cornea, lesions, allergies, and inward turning of eyelashes can also cause eye-watering. For this reason, when children have eye-watering and tear duct obstruction, parents should consult an ophthalmologist without neglecting it. In cases where hygienic conditions are not fully met, eye-watering and burring can be seen due to recurrent infections in babies.”

Yeditepe University Hospitals Eye Center Ophthalmologist Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlke Bahçeci Şimşek drew attention to the fact that 95 percent of congenital canal obstructions are spontaneously opened by applying proper and correct massage to the tear duct, and said, “For this reason, it is sufficient to apply only massage for the first 6 months and to use short-term drops to reduce burrs when necessary. Parents need to learn massage training from the ophthalmologist and perform massage therapy carefully. When the massage is done correctly, even with this treatment alone, the channel can be opened without the need for surgery.”

Şimşek stated that probing is applied if watering and burrs continue despite the massage application and added that silicone intubation is required if this method is not successful.