Patient's question:
Baby is five months old. At birth, there was a lot of discharge from the left eye. After sleeping, the left eye would stick shut and couldn't be opened. It only opened after being washed. The advice was to massage downward along the left nose. Even now, the left eye still often waters. I'm so worried. Is there any good method?Doctor's answer:
The infant's nasolacrimal duct runs from the inner corner of the eye to the nostril. Some infants are born with a blocked nasolacrimal duct. So tears cannot flow into the nasal passage. Instead, they overflow. At this time, it seems as if there are tears in your eyes. When the infant is 7 or 8 months old, the blockage in the nasolacrimal duct usually improves naturally. Massage can help the duct open within 7 or 8 months. If the blockage persists after 7 or 8 months, you will need to consult an ophthalmologist for assistance.