Patient's question:
My nephew is now 4 months old. Since he was born, he hasn't shed a tear. Every time he cries, there are no tears. Because his eyes aren't lubricated by tears, they feel like they have a stomachache, with eye discharge at the corners and redness. Applying erythromycin helps, but the discharge still comes back. What should I do about neonatal tear duct obstruction?Doctor's answer:
If the child indeed has a blocked tear duct, it may be necessary to have a small surgery. If there is a blocked tear duct, it may lead to frequent tearing, and over time, it could cause infection. The surgery to unblock the tear duct is very minor, with minimal psychological trauma, so there's no need to be anxious, as it has no adverse effects on the child. After the surgery, it's essential to pay attention to maintaining good eye hygiene for the child.