Tear Duct Tubes

I've never heard of tear duct tubes, but we've experienced blocked tear ducts. Basically there's mucus that keeps a fetus' orfaces closed while en-utero. Upon birth they usually get squeezed out and open up on their own. If not, you're dealing with blocked tear ducts. We've had some open on their own and one that needed to be surgically opened.

It was a quick procedure/surgery where they essentially put a pin in the duct to unblock the tube. She was in and out before we knew it. No recovery time. We've had no problems since then.

Best wishes

As an adult I have had lacrimal plugs placed (plugs in my tear ducts) for chronic dry eye. I walked in, sat in the chair, then watched as someone came really close to my eye with tweezers. It did not hurt. There obviously was some anxiety. I image there would have to be some sedation (not anesthesia) for stillness. Honestly I would have a much easier time agreeing to this than the ear tubes. I have had the plugs placed twice they can eventually fall out due to excessive eye rubbing.

My kiddo had his flushed out, but they didn't leave a tube in it. They ran a stylet thru the duct, then flushed sterile saline thru until they heard him swallow (tear duct is connected to the back of nose/throat), and then we put steroid drops in his eye for 10 days to prevent inflammation.

I'm assuming you've tried all the lacrimal massage and all that. How old is your kiddo? I think the standard of care is to wait until kiddo is 12 months before intervention if massage fails.

My daughter had this done at 8 weeks old, it was not to big of a deal. I do recommend that you leave the dr office while they do it cause there will be screaming (more from being put in restraints than from pain). Procedure took maybe 10 minutes and is done in the dr office, and my baby girl felt so much better immediately afterwards.

My oldest had tiny tear ducts, and constant conjunctivitis. They wanted to put these tubes in, if the problems persisted, but luckily, it stopped when she was around 3. I would wait, personally. Your DD is still young, the situation will likely improve.