Question
My daughter is 4 months old and has tiny blood vessels in her left eye. The doctor said she has newborn dacryocystitis in her left eye. After multiple tear duct flushes with medication (about 20 times), the condition is only partially improved, described by the doctor as ’not fully unobstructed’. Most of the medication flows back out of the eye, with only a small amount of fluid draining through the nose (unknown if it’s medication or tears from the right eye, as the baby cries heavily during the procedure, resulting in a lot of tears). Each time the tear duct is flushed, a small amount of pus comes out of the eye, ranging from white to pale yellow. Initially, rifampin eye drops were used (at 1 month old, used for about two weeks, with a noticeable reduction in blood vessels in the eye).
Answer
Newborn dacryocystitis requires flushing of the tear ducts, which is the most direct method. Use antibiotic eye drops after cleaning away any secretions. You can also flush the tear ducts before applying antibiotic eye drops. If medication treatment is ineffective, consider surgical treatment options such as dacryocystorhinostomy. Since there are many possible causes for obstructed tear ducts in infants, it’s essential to determine the cause before treatment to ensure effectiveness. Additionally, proper care measures in daily life are indispensable. It is recommended to eat fewer spicy foods and more eye-protective foods.