Question
How to handle an infant with excessive and sticky eye discharge?
Answer
When infants are between 2 to 3 months old, due to the inward growth of eyelashes, the eyes are often stimulated by friction, leading to the production of eye discharge. This condition usually improves naturally around the age of 1. If there is excessive eye discharge accompanied by symptoms such as feverishness, excessive sweating, dry stools, and thick tongue coating, it may be due to internal heat. Adjusting dietary habits, increasing intake of fruits and vegetables, and taking some herbal medicine for clearing heat and promoting digestion may be necessary. If the eye discharge suddenly increases and is accompanied by itchy eyes and redness, it may indicate pink eye, and immediate medical attention is required. Pay attention to personal hygiene to prevent cross-infection. You can clean the eyes with a warm towel or gently wipe the corners of the eyes with a cotton swab dipped in a 2% boric acid solution. If there is grayish-white material on the eyes at birth, it is vernix caseosa, which can be absorbed naturally and does not need to be wiped off.