“Eye” Love My Baby: Series On Infant Eye Care
Part 1: An inside look at conjunctivitis and blocked tear ducts in infants

League City, Texas – Unknown to most people, infants are just as susceptible to a host of eye-related infections as older children and adults. In a three part series, the doctors at The Eye Clinic of Texas discuss five common, infant related eye conditions that parents should know about in order to protect their babies’ vision. Part one covers conjunctivitis and blocked tear ducts.

Common in newborns, conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye) is an infection that occurs when bacteria, a virus or an allergic reaction inflames the transparent membrane covering the whites of the eyes and the inside of the eyelids. There are two kinds of conjunctivitis – bacterial and viral. Bacterial conjunctivitis, the most common type of eye infection, produces a thick yellow discharge that causes the infant’s eyelids to swell or stick together. If the eye is watering and the infant has a red, swollen throat and lymph glands, it probably is viral conjunctivitis.

“Both forms of conjunctivitis are extremely contagious,” said Dr. Allan Fradkin, ophthalmologist at The Eye Clinic of Texas, who specializes in pediatric eye care. “Hands should be washed constantly, and the child’s towels, clothing and bedding should be kept separate from others in the household, as well as laundered regularly. Toys can carry the infection, too, and should be cleaned regularly.”

If bacterial conjunctivitis is diagnosed, the doctor will prescribe antibiotic ointment or drops to use for a week-long period. If using ointment, Fradkin advises parents to wash their hands and squeeze a small portion of ointment onto the end of their finger. Rub this ointment along the baby’s lower lid so it will enter his eye upon blinking. If using drops, they should be aimed toward the inside corner of the baby’s eye. Hands should be washed upon completion, as well.

“In addition, wash the baby’s eyes with warm water and gently rub away the dried discharge, otherwise the infected fluid can build up and decrease the effectiveness of the antibiotics,” Fradkin said. “Once medication has been taken for a full 24-hour period, the infection is no longer contagious and the infant can return to daycare or safely be in contact with other babies. However, all medication should be taken in its entirety to prevent re-infection.”

In most cases, viral conjunctivitis clears up on its own within 14 days. The infant’s eyes should be gently washed with warm water to rub away the dried discharge. Unfortunately, a viral infection will continue to be contagious until the symptoms are gone.

“The important thing is to get conjunctivitis diagnosed as soon as possible,” Fradkin said. “If the infant is less than two weeks old, he may have contracted a serious form of conjunctivitis from bacteria living in the birth canal during delivery. Antibiotic drops applied right after birth should ward off this problem, but if not, treatment must be administered right away to prevent permanent vision damage.”

Another infant eye related condition is a blocked tear duct(s), which occurs in 20 percent of all babies. When a tear duct is blocked, a white or yellow discharge starts to build and can possibly lead to conjunctivitis.

“A child will start to form his first real set of tears approximately two weeks after birth,” Fradkin said. “Once they start to flow, they should drain into the nose through tiny ducts inside the corners of the eyes. If the membrane covering these ducts doesn’t break fully or partially open by itself shortly after birth, fluid will back up into the eye and may cause infection.”

Symptoms of a blocked tear duct begin with watery eyes, followed by the discharge build-up that may crust over at night and seal the eyelid. Treatment options vary. A doctor will more than likely prescribe drops or ointment to clear up an infection. In addition, the doctor may advise the parent to try and manually unblock the tear duct by gently massaging the skin near the corner of the eye next to the nose. Lukewarm compresses may also work.

“Until the tear duct opens, the discharge needs to be cleaned regularly,” Fradkin said. “Dip a cotton ball in saline solution and gently wipe the eye from the inside corner out, using a new cotton ball for every wipe.”

Fradkin said parents should not be surprised if their baby’s tear ducts get blocked several times during the first six months of life, the length of time it usually takes for tear ducts to fully open. If a duct remains clogged beyond six months, simple outpatient surgery can be performed.

Founded in 1972, The Eye Clinic of Texas (www.ecot.com) offers the latest in laser vision correction surgery, as well as a full range of other eye needs at three locations throughout Galveston County: League City, Galveston and Texas City. For more information on infant eye conditions, call (800) 423-3937.

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