Blocked Tear Duct

What is a blocked tear duct?

When the pathway that carries tears gets blocked, that is called a blocked tear duct. This happens often in very young babies. Most of the time, only one tear duct is blocked at a time.

Your baby may have a blocked tear duct when:

• One eye is always watery.
• Tears run down the face even when your baby does not cry.
• When your baby cries, the nostril on the blocked side is still dry.
• The eye on the blocked side is not red, and the eyelid is not swollen.
• The problem starts before your child is 1 month old.

How can I take care of my child?

Gently rub the inner, lower corner of your baby's eye with a clean cotton swab. That helps get rid of old tears that can build up. To do this:

• Wash your hands.
• Start at the inner corner of the eye.
• Gently press upward.
• A small amount of clear fluid should come out.

Call your doctor right away if:

• Your baby's eyelid is very red or swollen.
• There is a red lump at the inner lower corner of the eyelid.

Call your child's doctor during office hours if:

• There is a lot of yellow discharge from your baby's eye.
• Your child is more than 1 year old.
• You have other questions or concerns.