Tear duct blockage in children: drops are not the treatment

Many mothers complain of constant discharge from one or both of their child's eyes, and the pediatrician sometimes prescribes antiseptic drops. Dr. Mahmoud El Samkary stresses that drops only reduce the discharge, while the tear duct blockage remains.

When should I suspect a blocked tear duct in my child?

A baby should be born with a working tear duct. If there is constant discharge from one eye or both, this indicates a problem in the tear duct, and the child should be examined by an eye doctor within the first 6 months.

Treatment by age

• First 6 months: massage of the tear duct, with a very high success rate in relieving the blockage.
• From 6 months to one year: massage can be continued.
• After one year: the child needs surgical probing of the tear duct under general anesthesia, with a very high success rate.
• As the child grows: the chance of success of probing gradually decreases, and by about 3 years of age the child needs probing with a stent so the blockage does not return.

The first six months are therefore very important in treating tear duct blockage in children.