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Clogged Tear Duct Surgery/ Pediatric Opthamologist Recs

Mrs.WeggyMrs.Weggy
in Houston Babies

We went to the Pediatric Opthamologist yesterday b/c Travis has a clogged tear duct in his right eye.  We kept waiting for it to clear up on its own, but he is 8 months now and still has a constantly gooey eye.  We have 3 options: 1. Do nothing, 2. Probe it in the office while he is awake, 3. Wait until he is at least 1 year old and put a stint in under general anesthesia. 

Has anyone been through this?  We are thinking of doing the in-office probe since it only takes 5 minutes, but it will be pretty awful since they just hold them down and do it.  The doctor we went to does surgery at the out-patient surgery center across from Clear Lake Regional Hospital.  I would feel much more comfortable doing surgery at Texas Childrens, so if we go that route we need to find a doctor with privileges there. 

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Re: Clogged Tear Duct Surgery/ Pediatric Opthamologist Recs

  • Suzi-G-Suzi-G- member

    I don't really have any advice, I know I had the probing procedure done on one eye as a baby and I still have occasional issues with that tear duct getting clogged.  I think I have issues because of the way the duct is formed, my mom is inclined to think the probing resulted in scar tissue inside the duct.   No way to know who is right.  

    I would probably do option A or option B.  I don't think I'd bother with general anesthesia and a stint for something that's really a minor issue.  Chances are it will correct itself as he gets older and the duct gets a little bigger.  

    My big boy is bounding towards 4! Baby brother coming in October!
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    Hipster dog is not impressed.
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  • CareBear01CareBear01
    I don't think I would do the anesthesia.  I woudl wait a bit, or do the in office procedure.  If it's really only 5 minutes, although grueling, I think I would be more ok with that than an actual surgery.  Just give a little extra TLC afterwards!
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  • Mrs.WeggyMrs.Weggy

    Thanks ladies!  I should have also added that the office procedure can only be done before 12 months.  After that, they won't do it and surgery is the only option.  The surgery, however, can be done at any point in the future even when he is an adult. We would likely wait until he is at least 3 or 4 years old before I would even consider doing the surgery.  He does have a testicle that hasn't completely decended and may require surgery as well, so in that case, we would coordinate the two surgery to be done at once. 

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  • KellyMichelleKellyMichelle
    I don't know anything about clogged tear ducts, but for an ophthalmologist I highly recommend Baylor Eye Associates in Texas Children's Hospital.  DS was a preemie and was seen by them in the NICU and then follow up visits in their office.  All of the doctors there are great. 
    Kelly, Mom to Noah 8.27.05 (born at 26 weeks)
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  • Mrs.WeggyMrs.Weggy

    imageKellyMichelle:
    I don't know anything about clogged tear ducts, but for an ophthalmologist I highly recommend Baylor Eye Associates in Texas Children's Hospital.  DS was a preemie and was seen by them in the NICU and then follow up visits in their office.  All of the doctors there are great. 

    Thank you for the rec!  We will check them out for a second opinion.

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