Help for persistent watery or sticky eyes

Blocked Tear Ducts in Babies – Assessment and Care

A watery, sticky eye in a newborn is one of the most common — and most reassuring — problems in paediatric eye care. In the vast majority of cases, it’s due to a blocked tear duct that resolves on its own.

What is it?

Tears normally drain from the eye through a small duct into the nose. In many babies, a thin membrane at the lower end of this duct hasn’t fully opened at birth, so tears back up instead of draining properly. This affects up to 1 in 5 newborns to some degree.

What it looks like

• Persistent watering of one or both eyes, often worse in the wind or cold
• Sticky or crusty discharge, particularly after sleep
• The white of the eye itself is usually not red or inflamed
• Symptoms often started within the first few weeks of life

Is it the same as conjunctivitis?

Not usually. True conjunctivitis typically causes redness of the eye itself, whereas a blocked tear duct causes watering and discharge with a normal-looking, non-red eye. That said, a blocked duct can occasionally become infected (dacryocystitis), which needs prompt attention — see below.

What can I do at home?

• Gently massage the area between the corner of the eye and the side of the nose several times a day, using light downward strokes — this can help open the membrane
• Clean any discharge with a clean, damp cotton pad, wiping outward from the corner of the eye
• Keep the eye otherwise undisturbed

When does it need treatment?

Around 90% of blocked tear ducts resolve on their own by 12 months of age with simple massage. If watering and discharge persist beyond a child’s first birthday, a small in-office or day-surgery procedure called probing can open the duct, with a high success rate.

When to seek prompt review

See a doctor promptly if you notice:

• Redness, swelling or tenderness over the inner corner of the eyelid or side of the nose
• Fever or the baby appears unwell
• The eye itself becomes red and inflamed, not just watery

These can indicate an infection needing more urgent treatment rather than simple observation.

If your baby’s watery eye hasn’t settled, or you’re unsure whether what you’re seeing is a blocked duct or something else, our team at Bright Sight Eye Specialists is happy to take a look.

Book a paediatric eye consultation

For specialist children’s eye care in Randwick, contact Bright Sight Eye Specialists to arrange an appointment.

This information is general and does not replace an individual medical assessment.