Question
My newborn’s right eye has watery discharge and eye stools. What could this be?
Answer
Hello, if a newborn’s right eye has watery discharge and eye stools, it may not be due to heat. If the left eye does not have the same symptoms, then it is likely not caused by heat. It should be considered that there may be dacryocystitis or lacrimal duct obstruction. It is recommended to perform lacrimal massage on the child: use your thumb to gently press upwards from the inner corner of the eye along the bridge of the nose, applying slight pressure to the nostril, five times a day, each time for five presses. It is best to do this after instilling eye drops, as this helps absorb the eye drops into the lacrimal sac. Remember to keep your nails clean. If lacrimal massage does not show any effect, it is recommended to undergo lacrimal duct probing, ideally when the child is three months old, as at this age, the child’s lacrimal puncta are large enough for cleaning and probing, and the resistance is not strong. If the child grows older, the resistance will be greater, making probing more difficult.