Did you know? (Feb 2010)
February 10, 2010
Did You Know?
If your baby has a constant discharge from her his or her eyes, this could mean something other than an eye infection. The most common cause of recurrent discharge from the eyes of a baby is a nasolacrimal duct obstruction (blocked tear duct), which can be diagnosed by your ophthalmologist. This condition results in:
- Eyes that appear wetter than normal,
- Tears rolling down the cheek during the day (often but not always a symptom) and
- Discharge from around the eyes, especially when the child first wakes up.
The problem will spontaneously resolve in the majority of children by the time the child is one year old. Antibiotic eye drops are often used when the discharge is copious and present throughout the day. If the problem does not resolve spontaneously, a surgery procedure is available to correct the problem.
This article reprinted with permission from the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmartTM campaign (www.geteyesmart.org).
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