should i bug the doctor?

Meg&Austin

my daughter has always had issues with her eyes like boogers every morning watery and lately she has been waking up with one sealed shut more than usual. I've tried the warm compresses with a washcloth breast milk and I brought it up to the doctor at her 4 month checkup and they didn't really seem worried about it.

So it's been going on pretty much her whole life just gradually getting worse.

gutsysneakers

@Meg&Austin - we are in the same boat. I brought it up at our 6 month app and this doctor finally validated my concerns. She said that it was a blocked tear duct - and if it hasn't resolved itself by 1 year, they may need to do "surgery" where they pop the duct open. 

She gets a lot of gooey eye boogers and it's been crusty-shut a few times. Let me know what your pedi says - I'm interested to hear if I should be doing anything else. 

 

deanna1313

I was going to say the same thing as PP. It's probably a clogged tear duct. I've seen quite a few kids that have had the same issue and a few of them did have to have surgery.
I would definitely contact the dr since it isn't getting any better and see if they can do anything in the meantime to help it get better.
Good luck!

Junebug060609

My dd has the same thing. I've brought it up every time she's seen a doctor since she was a month old (most recently at her six month appt). I keep getting told the same thing: warm, damp cloth to wipe and that if it hasn't cleared by a year that they can go in and clear it...but that it isnt a pleasant experience to have that done ,(she'd be put under).

Fx the goopy eyes stop soon

ETA: I've had it confirmed about a half dozen times- clogged tear duct

ho11yday

We get eye boogies sometimes, but not nearly as bad as you are describing. Our pediatrician said to massage the ducts every diaper change.

spinsoffresonance

DD1 was born with a clogged duct. She eventually had to have surgery because it didn't clear up on its own. Make sure you keep massaging the corner of the eye, where the eye meets the nose to try to clear it up. And watch out for conjunctivitis (pink eye). DD1 got it at least twice a month. Her eye would be extra crusty and the eyelids were swollen. If you're getting an unusual amount of discharge or green discharge have the doctor check for an infection.

mrspopsicle

Google lacrimal massage. You can find videos of how to massage it to help open it up. My son had a clogged duct that has finally cleared up in the last month. Our pedi always said to call if he had more discharge/crust than usual. She said she would prescribe drops over the phone. Babes with clogged ducts get pink eye easily especially because we are constantly touching their eyes trying to clear them so make sure you always was your hands before touching.

Meg&Austin

Thanks ladies I try to massage but she fights it pretty bad, even while nursing. This is what we get every morning sealed shut. I figured if I called the dr they would tell me to do what I am already doing so I won't waste the trip in and just hope it clears up. I'm sure it doesn't bug her as much as it bugs me. Just hate seeing her eye so nasty

Meg&Austin

She rubs randomly but could be from tiredness. It's been going on so long I didn't really think of pink eye as an option...

Meg&Austin

Turns out she has an ear infection. Def was not expecting that when I went in there!

gutsysneakers

Is the eye goop a side effect of that? Anything I should be looking for?

Meg&Austin

He said it could be from all the drainage from the ear infection and if it doesn't clear up on the antibiotics then she may need to see an ENT . Said he was surprised she wants running a fever and was in such a good mood. So i guess watch for a fever and a cranky baby. I wasn't expecting to go in to get her eye looked at and get told she has an ear infection

Meg&Austin

granted I am a first time mom so I don't really know the signs of an ear infection he did ask if she had been coughing, due to drainage, which she has but honestly I just thought it was a fake cough cuz it sounded fake

Meg&Austin

becole42 said:

Glad you took her in @Meg&Austin

Me too! I almost didn't bc I figured I'd get sent home with an oh well she looks fine just keep doing what your doing

CarriMat

We had this very same issue one week ago. My daughter always seems to have watering and crusty eyes,(I suspect she has seasonal allergies like I do, but drs wont confirm that theory because she is so young) but they started really becoming snotty and matted shut. I thought I would be overreacting to take her to the doctor because there were no signs of redness in the eye, no fever, nothing! I finally after a week took her in and she had an ear infection. Our pedi said draining eyes are usually a sign of infection somewhere, whether it be eye infection, ear infection, or sinus infection. She said it was good I brought her in. Our appointment was around lunch that day and by 8pm that night she was running fever. I guess we caught it a little early.