Question

My baby is almost eleven months old and has had a bit of a cold recently, with a runny nose. The corners of his eyes always have eye boogers, especially in the morning after waking up, and they get stuck to the eyelashes.

Answer

Congenital dacryocystitis is usually caused by a membrane or valve obstruction in the lower part of the nasolacrimal duct. Most patients have unilateral disease, while some have bilateral disease. Most symptoms appear within 3-4 days after birth, primarily manifested as increased discharge and tear secretion. The cause of excessive tears is bacterial invasion into the lacrimal sac, where they reproduce and cause suppuration. The pus-like material fills the entire lacrimal gland and cannot be drained downward. It can only be excreted upward along the lacrimal sac and lacrimal ducts into the eyes. Early treatment is crucial to avoid potential complications such as keratitis. If not treated early, the cornea may turn from black to white, affecting the baby’s vision development. Currently, the treatment for congenital dacryocystitis often involves lacrimal duct irrigation. If two or three irrigations do not resolve the problem, a minor surgery can be performed to probe the blocked area of the nasolacrimal duct. This surgery is usually easier to perform on infants before they are six months old.