Your child has a tear duct in the nasal corner of each eye. These ducts allow tears to drain, and if a blockage such as a cyst occurs, your infant may have tears that run down her cheeks, even if she's not crying, or she may have redness of her eye or eyelid. You may also notice a lump or swelling in the corner of her eye. Knowing about tear duct cysts will help as you talk with the pediatrician about your newborn's condition.
Cyst Blockage
Cysts typically have a sac-like structure that contains fluid or air, but the cyst may also contain matter that has similar qualities to the surrounding tissue. Newborns do not typically experience tear duct cysts, but if your infant has this condition the doctor may not recommend treatment initially since, in some cases, the obstruction may clear on its own. In some cases, a simple massage to the area may help release the cyst pocket and clear the duct. The pediatrician will show you where to massage since this will depend on the location of the cyst.
Advanced Treatment
If your infant continues to experience symptoms or has complications from the cyst blockage, the pediatrician may recommend other forms of treatment. She may use a special probe to open up the punctum, the small duct opening on the eyelid. The doctor may then use a special syringe filled with a saline solution to push the fluid through the duct, and this pressure may clear the blockage. In cases where dilation and irrigation do not clear the duct, the doctor may recommend a surgical procedure to remove the cyst.
Congenital Blockage
The pediatrician may also determine that another condition may have caused the obstruction. Your infant's duct may not have formed properly during gestation, and this caused the obstruction. In this case, the tear duct will usually clear within the first year, without invasive treatment. The doctor may recommend massage, however, to stimulate the process.
Considerations
Inform the doctor if you notice symptoms of a blocked tear duct. Prompt attention to the problem may prevent complications. A blockage can lead to chronic infections, and prolonged or frequent infections could ultimately affect your baby's eyes, including his vision. If your child has a blockage, the pediatrician may give you prescription eye drops to use periodically to help prevent infections from occurring.
