Saw a mum today who asked about her 5 month old baby still having a sticky Rt. eye.
Very common in babies and usually resolves in the first few weeks as long as you keep cleaning it with soft cotton and clean water. If the eye (sclera) is ed or secretions really ‘mucky’, then you should consult your doctor.
If it persists for long, the problem might be blocked ‘Nasolacrimal duct’ (Tear Duct). This duct drains fluid from the eye through the nose. In some babies, it may be blocked.
Treatment is usually very easy. You massage the babies nose starting from the top pf the nose and going down as shown in the figure below. Do it 4-5 times a day for a minute each time and it should open soon. If it doesn’t, rarely it may need ‘probing’ by an ENT surgeon.
