Eye problems
Eye problems can have many different causes. Two common causes of eye problems are discussed here. If your child has a
red, swollen, or draining eye:
Call right away
- Fever over 105°F
- Child is less than 12 weeks old and fever is over 100F (under the arm)
- Outer eyelid is quite red, tender, and eye is swollen shut (or nearly so)
- Sore or ulcer is seen on the clear part of the eye
Call the office within 24 hours
- Swelling, redness and drainage that lasts more than 24 hours
- Pain in eye that persists
- Blurred or decreased vision
- Significant light sensitivity
- Constant, or excessive tearing
- Blinking that is excessive, or constant
Continue reading: if child has none of the above signs, you may begin home treatment
What is a blocked tear duct?
Blocked tear duct means there is obstruction of the tube that normally drains tears from the eye to the nose. This happens very commonly in babies. Signs that suggest a blocked duct include:
- Eye is watery all the time (amount varies)
- Nostril on blocked side stays dry when the baby cries
- No redness of eye, or swelling of eyelid
- Signs occur at birth or by 4 weeks of age (sometimes tears aren’t produced until about 4 weeks)
What to expect
Nearly all blocked tear ducts open spontaneously by 9—12 months of age. The few that do not open can be opened by an eye doctor.
What to do for blocked tear duct
Infection can easily occur because there is poor drainage from the eye. Massage and keeping the eye as clean as possible are important. To massage: 1)wash your hands, 2) gently apply pressure just below the inner corner of the eye, 3) press upward toward the eye (you may see a bit of liquid being pushed out). Repeat two times every day. For discharge/draining of the eye, gently clean from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eye. Use cotton balls and sterile water for cleaning; use each cotton ball just once. If signs of infection occur (red, draining eye), the baby may need antibiotic medicine for the eye.
Call during office hours for signs of infection red, draining eye
- eye looks very pink, red, or bloodshot
- large amount of yellowish discharge, drainage
- “stuck together” eyelids with crusts (especially in the morning, and after naps)
What is red, draining eye?
Causes of “red eye” include: bacterial, viral, allergy, etc. If your child’s red eye is a bacterial infection, antibiotic eye medicine may be needed. Signs are outlined immediately above. Red, draining eye can be quite contagious, especially among children in day care and school. Call the office (during office hours) if you suspect your child has an eye infection. If eye symptoms have lasted longer than 24 hours, antibiotic drops or ointment may be needed.
Home care
Usually draining eyes can be safely watched at home until the child can be seen in the office.
Always wash your hands well before and after caring for child’s infected eye.
- Cleanse (remove all moist and dried pus) from inner to outer corner of eye with warm water and cotton balls (use each ball one time only)
- Moist warm compresses (with cloth) 4 times/day are helpful
- If medicine is prescribed: do no let the tip of eye dropper or ointment tube touch the infected eye
- Launder child’s towel and washcloth after each use
- Child may return to school/daycare 24 hours after starting medicine if drainage is improving.
What to expect
Drainage/discharge should clear in about 3 days. Redness in eyes may take several days to clear.
Call: if drainage, or pus lasts more than 3 days after starting treatment.
