Blocked Tear Duct
Blockage of the tear duct system is a very common condition in infants. Babies will have constant tearing, crusted lashes, and redness of the eye and lids. Most cases improve with facial growth and do not require intervention. Initial approaches include massage of the lacrimal sac and topical antibiotics for temporary relief.
If symptoms persist beyond 9 months, then outpatient surgical approaches are most effective. These techniques do not require incisions or sutures, but simply open the blocked tear duct system. Options include simple probing, balloon dilation (LacriCath) or placement of tubes for a few months.