Question
The infant has had excessive eye discharge since birth. Initially, it was not given much attention, but by the time the baby was five months old, the situation remained the same. What could be the possible causes?
Answer
Hello. Generally speaking, infants between 2 to 3 months old may have a small amount of eye discharge upon waking up in the morning. This is because during this period, eyelashes tend to grow inward, causing friction and irritation to the eyes, resulting in eye discharge. Usually by around 1 year old, eyelashes will naturally grow outward, and the amount of eye discharge will gradually decrease, so no special treatment is needed. Parents can gently wipe clean with a warm towel. If there is a grayish substance on the baby’s eyes at birth, it is not eye discharge; it is medically referred to as “vernix caseosa.” Vernix caseosa has the function of protecting the skin and preventing heat loss and can be absorbed naturally, so it should not be wiped away arbitrarily.