How can you tell the difference between a blocked tear duct and pink eye?
This also can lead to tearing, discharge from the eye and matting that causing the eyelids to be stuck together. The main difference is that with a blocked tear duct, there is not redness of the white of the eye.
What color is blocked tear duct discharge?
If the tear duct is clogged and not infected, you may notice a little white or yellow discharge in the eyes. The discharge may crust over during sleep and even seal the eyelid shut. Once your baby’s eyes become infected, you’ll see lots of yellow or green discharge that continues throughout the day.
How long do clogged tear ducts last?
Most cases of clogged tear ducts will resolve as your baby gets older — typically by 12 months of age, especially with at-home treatments. But, if your baby has clogged tear ducts past 1 year of age, your doctor may recommend a simple procedure to help unclog the tear ducts.
When do Blocked tear ducts start?
Babies with blocked tear ducts usually show symptoms between birth and 12 weeks of age. But sometimes the problem doesn’t show up until the tear duct gets infected. An infection can happen when germs grow inside the blocked duct.
What can you do for a clogged tear duct in adults?
Other treatments for a blocked tear duct may include:
- Balloon catheter dilation. Your doctor guides a very thin catheter through the blockage in the tear duct, starting from the nose.
- Stenting or intubation. Your doctor threads a thin tube through the puncta and throughout the tear drainage system to the nose.
- Surgery.
How do you massage a blocked tear duct?
To help open the tear duct and empty it out, you could do a tear duct massage. Essentially, you can apply gentle pressure toward the opening of the duct, alongside the upper nose and along the lower eyelid, to try to help them clear. Ask a doctor to demonstrate how to do this.
How long does blocked tear duct last?
Often a blocked tear duct clears up on its own, especially in babies under 6 months old. If your child has a blocked tear duct, your doctor may show you how to massage the eye several times a day at home for a few months. Massaging can help open the blockage.
How do you unblock tear ducts?
Treating a blocked tear duct
- Balloon catheter dilation. Your doctor guides a very thin catheter through the blockage in the tear duct, starting from the nose.
- Stenting or intubation. Your doctor threads a thin tube through the puncta and throughout the tear drainage system to the nose.
- Surgery.