Question
The newborn has a tearing phenomenon at birth but no eye mucus. At 6 months old, the baby develops red eye circles, increased yellow sticky mucus, and difficulty in opening the eyes upon waking up in the morning. Previous treatments, including eye drops and pressure irrigation, have not shown improvement. How can the child’s normal vision be restored?
Answer
Parents should perform gentle massage on the child’s tear sac area on the side of the nose bridge daily, moving from top to bottom. During the massage, the fingers should be pressed firmly against the skin, applying pressure to the subcutaneous tear sac area to create a smooth sliding and massaging motion. Additionally, antibiotic eye drops should be used in conjunction, and any secreted pus should be wiped away with a cotton swab before applying the drops. If massage is ineffective, early tear duct probing should be considered to prevent possible inflammation of surrounding tissues or the formation of difficult-to-cure tear sac fistulas. For patients who have undergone multiple probing sessions without success, consider using tear duct intubation treatment.