Clogged Tear Ducts???

Updated on January 15, 2008
K.T. asks from Camarillo, CA
5 answers

My daughters pediatrician keeps informing me that it is just a clogged tear duct. She is 7-months old and I swear it is getting worse. Poor thing can't even open her eye all the way. When she wakes up it is completely glued shut with goop. I have used a few different drops but they do nothing except make her little eye look worse. It gets so bad that it looks raw. Is this normal or do I go over my pediatrician's head and find a pediatric ophthalmologist? It is starting to look weak and lazy...if there is something I can do NOW to prevent her eye from being lazy in the future then I would be up for it!
I'm in Ventura County so if anyone knows of a specialist in the area I would love names.

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So What Happened?

I went to a specialist and he said that she has severe clogged ducts. She also has a scratched cornea that was infected which made it worse...anyway the specialist said that the clogged ducts will not cause any long term damage that I can wait until she turns one to see if she out grows it or I can do the outpatient surgery and 98% of the time it is all better the next day. Mu husband and I talked about it and we are going to wait to see if she outgrows it. I don't feel comfortable having my baby under anesthesia. Even though it is only for 30 min or so...she is my little fragile one! She had meningitis @ 7-weeks old and was in ICU for a week and that was enough torture for me!

More Answers

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H.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

K.,

As a child I also had a clogged tear duct and they did a minor surgery to open it up. I would suggest talking to another Dr. at this point. It does not sound normal for her to be having that much swelling or discomfort. If it is a chronic infection I would not want it to do any damage to her eye and better safe then sorry.
I would suggest calling Dr. Alan Goldstein for a referral ###-###-####and you are free to tell him that H. Marton referred you and ask for his suggestions to. He is wonderful.
All the best,
H.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi K.

How long has the tear duct been clogged? Did your pediatrician say this is something that over time would take care of it's self?..Me Personally I'd go over his head or find another pediatrician and get a 2nd opinion. This doesn't sound normal to me..I have 2 kids a 15 year old and 3 year old.

D.

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D.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

The drops are to prevent infection probably- but do not help to drain the tear duct. A warm compress for 3-5 minutes and then press on the area below it 4 times a day might help, but I doubt your little one will sit still for that. A clogged tear duct is not uncommon in babies...they usually outgrow it, but a pediatric Ophthamologist visit wouldn't hurt. There is a Dr Cooper in T.O. if you're interested.

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi
K. ,my daughter was born with a clogged tear duct.It went away at about ayear old,to keep her comfy I put Vaseline around her eye it helped alot.Poor thing I know how alful it looks but it should go away.

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T.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

My daughter had a clogged tear duct as a baby. Our pedicitrian said it would clear up at about 9 mos. old. I pursued a specialist. I went to the first visit and scheduled surgery to have it opened up. About 3 days before surgery - at about 9 mos old - the tear duct opened up. The problem was gone.

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