clogged tear duct

evanzmom11

When LO was about 4 months old we found out that he had a clogged tear duct which was making his right eye watery constantly. We had mistaken this for pink eye which is very common to do. Our pedi said that it should correct itself between 9-12 months and it hasn't yet. DS is turning 1 in about 2 weeks. She informed us that if it didn't correct itself by then they would just do a little surgery where they go in with and clear the tear duct.

Since his 1 year appointment is coming up soon, I decided to research more exactly what they would have to do when we have this little surgery. (A little background, I have a serious eye phobia. I cannot let anybody touch my eye or go anywhere near it or look at other people touch their eyes or even listen to people talk about touching their eyes. I've tried to get past this but have not yet) 

Anyways, it looks like he will have to be put under a brief anesthesia while it happens. That already worries me, and just them having to go near his eye freaks me out too. I'm trying to be brave for DS but this is seriously freaking me out more than it probably should. I guess I'm just looking for anyone who has had any exp. with this procedure or anesthesia on a baby or any encouraging advice.

Sorry this got so long but I'm freaking out!

 

dairygirl19

I'm right where you are too. My LO has a clogged tear duct that hasn't cleared.

My pedi told me it's done at the eye doctor, give them a bit of local anesthesia to kill the pain and perform a short procedure.

He told me in most cases it's over in less than five minutes and while it sounds completely creepy...it's really no big deal.

I'd stay away from google and try not let the eye phobia get to you. IMO it's not worth making a bigger deal out of it than necessary...more something you just have to do.

tmwishful

Is this clog an infection causing the blockages or a physical shutdown of the duct?  I had a clogged duct when I was a teenager and a prescribed ointment solved it.  I feel for you if surgery on your LO's is the only choice.

ms.fisher

My LO had the exact same thing.  Our eye Dr. showed me how to massage the corner of his eye (using more force than I would have imagined..) and we did it every night for probably a month.  Sure enough, it cleared itself up.  Not sure if you have tried rubbing the corner to try to break it loose, but it could be worth a shot?

reederah

My nephew actually had the procedure done a couple months ago. The surgery went fine and he didn't seem in pain or anything after it (and he usually is pretty grumpy in general haha so that was weird!). Unfortunately, it only helps for a week or so before the symptoms started coming back. The doctors think he had a lot of scar tissue in the duct from it getting clogged/inflamed so much. Now he's going to have a stent put in it in a couple weeks.

Good luck with your LO!

SharonB222

I had tear duct surgery when I was 1? years old.  My mom said prior to the operation my eyes would be glued shut with goop and crust.  The surgery went well I suppose, since my mom didn't mention any complications and I haven't had problems in the decades since then.  (I required sinus surgery in my adult life and wonder if it is related - small ducts, small sinus passages?).  My niece had a stye under her eye which she had surgically removed somewhere around 2 and that went fine.  I have a friend who's DD was moderately under the weather for two days after general anesthesia --- when she had the procedure done again they handled the meds differently and she recovered much faster and better.  As with any operation it's a matter of quality of life and risk with or without.  Most parents would be freaked out beforehand ... and afterwards would say "what was I worried about? it went fine".  I'm glad you're doing your research; I hope you find a way for your LO and you to be comfortable with your options (albeit nervous).

memali26

DD2 has a clogged duct that clears up, comes back, lather, rinse, repeat. It's been infected a few times and is in general just really annoying. Our ped told us if it's not clear by a year we'll be referred to a specialist to see if she needs the procedure to clear it. It's been better lately, so hopefully she won't need the procedure, especially since she is probably headed toward getting ear tubes, too. I'd rather not have to do two procedures like that in a short time.

As far as anesthesia, DD1 had ear tubes placed at 14 months and was put under for about 5-10 minutes for the procedure. She was groggy and a little disoriented when she woke up, but after a good long nap she was completely back to normal, no issues with the anesthesia at all. I was terrified to have her put under, but it went perfectly.

Y.G.C.

My son had a clogged tear duct his first few months, it went away at 4 months. I went to see a couple of pedi and all talked about the surgery when he turns 1. Luckily I met with a different pedi and she prescribed an ointment to put on him 3 times a day I think, from what I remember. But she also showed me how to massage the tear duct correctly. You start at the tip of his nose (not on top but on the side of the nose) push up and press down on the tear duct area. I recommed to ask your pedi about the technic and maybe they can show you how to do it. 

kalioury

My LO had it done 8 days ago. I was also very nervous and also have a fear of touching my own eye or watching other people do it!! What I will say is it was a peice of cake. My LO will be 11 months in a few days. The doctor said the younger they are, the higher the success rate, and it's a very common procedure. For my baby, it's a 90-95% success rate. Coming out of the recovery room we saw 4 babies waiting for the same surgery.

 We got there at 6 am and were scheduled for 7 am surgery time. Nurse came in and took vitals, doctor came in and explained everything, anesthesiologist came in and explained everything as well. Nurse took him away, we were given a pager for when we could come back to recovery... no lie, it was five minutes max. Went into a conference room, met with the doctor who told us how it went, where she reassured us that it wouldn't have gone away on it's own for those who want to prolong surgery hoping it'll eventually go away. Then we got to go to recovery which honestly was the worst part for me, only because he was crying which is completely normal and is how they want him to be after waking up from being put under. I was able to hold him right away and he fell asleep in my arms. We were in recovery for about 45 minutes. He slept the whole way home and when we got home, he woke up and instantly was his same self, laughing, playing, etc. For the rest of the day!!! Here I was thinking I could get some good cuddling in, and you never would've known he had surgery. And the watery eye and eye boogies and goop is GONE!!!!!! I have to put cream on it and give him eye drops which sucks cuz I mean, who really likes putting drops in their eyes, much less a little squirmy baby? But otherwise, everything was good!

kalioury

I should also clarify, my pedi also told me it usually goes away but if it hasn't by 9-10 months, it usually doesn't. So in my LO's case, it most likely would not have gone away on it's own, and the doctor explained exactly what the issue was and how she fixed it.

evanzmom11

kalioury:

My LO had it done 8 days ago. I was also very nervous and also have a fear of touching my own eye or watching other people do it!! What I will say is it was a peice of cake. My LO will be 11 months in a few days. The doctor said the younger they are, the higher the success rate, and it's a very common procedure. For my baby, it's a 90-95% success rate. Coming out of the recovery room we saw 4 babies waiting for the same surgery.

 We got there at 6 am and were scheduled for 7 am surgery time. Nurse came in and took vitals, doctor came in and explained everything, anesthesiologist came in and explained everything as well. Nurse took him away, we were given a pager for when we could come back to recovery... no lie, it was five minutes max. Went into a conference room, met with the doctor who told us how it went, where she reassured us that it wouldn't have gone away on it's own for those who want to prolong surgery hoping it'll eventually go away. Then we got to go to recovery which honestly was the worst part for me, only because he was crying which is completely normal and is how they want him to be after waking up from being put under. I was able to hold him right away and he fell asleep in my arms. We were in recovery for about 45 minutes. He slept the whole way home and when we got home, he woke up and instantly was his same self, laughing, playing, etc. For the rest of the day!!! Here I was thinking I could get some good cuddling in, and you never would've known he had surgery. And the watery eye and eye boogies and goop is GONE!!!!!! I have to put cream on it and give him eye drops which sucks cuz I mean, who really likes putting drops in their eyes, much less a little squirmy baby? But otherwise, everything was good!

 

Oh wow....thank you for posting that. It makes me a little less anxious about the whole thing!

cottonlily84

DD had it in both eyes.  One cleared up very early, the other when she was about 7 months old.  It was the day after her 6 month appointment.  The goop just vanished and she's been totally fine since.  I was convinced that she would have to get the surgery too.  My new BIL's sister had it as a child and she has no vision problems from it or the surgery.  It's a probe they run through the duct into the nasal cavity to pop it open.  It shouldn't cause any kind of pain and my dr says they wait til well after 1 year to see if it will happen on it's own.

I feel for you though.  I got so tired of wiping her little eye all day.