Eye Concerns
Infected Tear Ducts
Chronically Clogged Tear Ducts in Babies
When your babies’ eyes water, even when they’re not crying, they may have a condition call congenital stenosis, or infected tear ducts. It may seem that the baby’s eyes tear constantly, even when no known allergies, cold, and other concerns are present.
What are the causes?
These watery eyes are caused by improper drainage of the tear ducts due to a blockage of the natural tear drainage canal. Some babies are born with a membrane in the tear duct that did not open at birth. One in every three babies is born with this condition, which causes an overproduction of tears for the first months of life.
How can it be treated?
Generally, babies’ tear ducts will open normally by the time they reach a year old. When you have your baby’s first eye examination with a licensed eye doctor—generally recommended at six months old, alert your doctor to the excessive tearing.
If chronic infections of the tear duct occur or if the problem persists beyond the baby’s first year, your doctor may recommend a minor surgical procedure to open the duct. This procedure is painless and takes about five minutes to complete, and general anesthesia is used to calm and protect the baby.
