Your baby wakes with a sticky, crusty eye every morning, or one eye seems to water all the time even when they are not crying. That is often a blocked tear duct in babies, a very common condition in the first months. It is usually harmless and clears up on its own by the first birthday. Here is how to recognise it, how to care for it at home and when to see a doctor.
Quick answer: blocked tear duct in babies
- Common: affects about 1 in 5 babies, usually in the first weeks.
- Signs: watery eye, sticky or crusty eyelashes, but the white of the eye stays white.
- Home care: clean with cooled boiled water and try gentle tear duct massage.
- Usually clears by 12 months without treatment.
Why it happens
Tears normally drain through a tiny duct in the inner corner of the eye into the nose. In some babies, a thin membrane at the end of the duct has not fully opened yet, so tears back up and the eye waters or becomes sticky.
Symptoms
- constant tearing in one or both eyes
- tears pooling or running down the cheek
- yellow or white sticky discharge, especially after sleep
- crusted eyelashes
- the white of the eye is not red, and your baby is otherwise well
How to clean the eye
- Wash your hands.
- Dip cotton wool in cooled boiled water.
- Wipe from the inner corner outwards, using a fresh piece for each wipe and each eye.
- Repeat as often as needed through the day.
See cleaning baby’s ears, eyes and nails.
Tear duct massage
Your doctor may suggest massage. With a clean finger, press gently on the side of the nose, just below the inner corner of the eye, and stroke downwards towards the nostril a few times. Do this 2 to 3 times a day. Keep your nails short.
Blocked tear duct or conjunctivitis?
With a blocked tear duct, the white of the eye stays white. With conjunctivitis, the eye is often red or pink and the eyelids may be swollen. See conjunctivitis in babies.
When to talk to your doctor
- the white of the eye turns red, or the eyelids become swollen
- redness, swelling or a lump at the inner corner near the nose (possible infection)
- fever with eye symptoms
- your baby seems sensitive to light, or the eye looks cloudy or enlarged: seek urgent help
- symptoms continue past 12 months
Frequently asked questions
Is a blocked tear duct painful?
No, it is not usually painful, though the sticky eye can be uncomfortable to clean.
Do babies need antibiotic drops?
Not usually. Drops are only needed if an infection develops.
Can breast milk clear a blocked tear duct?
There is no good evidence. Cooled boiled water is recommended.
Sources
- NHS: Blocked tear duct; Sticky eyes in babies
- American Academy of Ophthalmology: Blocked tear duct in children
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Blocked Tear Ducts
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your baby’s eyes, talk to your doctor.