Say goodbye to teary eyes, there is a trick to unclog the tear duct

Author: Han Shumei Shenzhen Children's Hospital

Reviewer: Chen Lingyan, Chief Physician of Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Member of the Ophthalmic Disease Prevention and Treatment Committee of Guangdong Preventive Medicine Association, Vice Chairman of the Low Vision Committee of Shenzhen Optometry Society

During the growth of children, parents always carefully observe every subtle change, especially the bright and clear eyes. However, sometimes we find that children's eyes are always tearful, as if there are endless tears. This is probably caused by blocked tear ducts. Today, let's talk about this topic and explore how to help children say goodbye to tearful eyes and keep the tear ducts unobstructed.

1. Understanding tear duct obstruction in children

First, let's take a brief look at the tear duct and its function. The tear duct is a small tube responsible for draining tears to the nasal cavity. It starts from the punctum at the corner of the eye, passes through the lacrimal canaliculus, the common lacrimal duct, and the lacrimal sac, and finally reaches the nasolacrimal duct and opens into the nasal cavity. When the tear secretion is excessive or the tear duct is blocked, the tears cannot be discharged normally and will accumulate in the eye socket, forming the "tearful eyes" phenomenon we see.

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Tear duct obstruction is a common disease in pediatric ophthalmology, mostly occurring in newborns and infants. The causes are varied, including congenital developmental abnormalities, eye infections, trauma, etc., among which congenital nasolacrimal duct hypoplasia is the most common cause. As children grow, the nasolacrimal ducts of some children will gradually develop and the symptoms of tear duct obstruction will also ease on their own. However, some children have persistent tear duct obstruction due to various reasons, which requires timely attention and intervention from parents.

2. The harm of tearful eyes

Although watery eyes may seem like a minor problem, if not treated promptly, they may have a series of adverse effects on children. First, long-term accumulation of tears can easily breed bacteria and cause eye infections such as conjunctivitis and keratitis. Second, the salt and other components in tears can irritate the skin around the eyes, causing skin redness, eczema and other problems. In addition, watery eyes may also affect children's vision development, causing them to feel visually uncomfortable, which in turn affects their daily life and study.

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3. Tips to unclog tear ducts

Parents do not need to worry too much about children's blocked tear ducts. Through scientific methods, we can help children restore the patency of their tear ducts. Here are some practical tips:

1. Massage therapy

Massage is one of the effective means to promote the development and patency of the tear duct. For newborns and infants, parents can gently massage the area below the inner corner of the eye (i.e. the tear sac area) to the lower part of the nasolacrimal duct under the guidance of a doctor. The specific method is: use the thumb or index finger to gently press and massage from the inner corner of the eye along the bridge of the nose. Be careful to be gentle when massaging to avoid excessive force to damage the child's eyes. Massage therapy can promote the discharge of secretions in the tear sac and accelerate the development and patency of the tear duct.

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2. Keep your eyes clean

Keeping the eyes clean is an important measure to prevent eye infections. Parents should regularly use a clean cotton swab or gauze dipped in warm water to gently wipe the skin around the child's eyes to remove secretions and dirt. At the same time, be careful to avoid using toiletries containing irritating ingredients to avoid aggravating eye discomfort.

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3. Rational use of drugs

For tear duct obstruction caused by eye infection, proper medication is crucial. The doctor will prescribe appropriate eye drops or eye ointments according to the condition. Parents must follow the doctor's instructions and accurately implement the medication plan. Do not stop the medication or adjust the dosage without authorization to avoid affecting the treatment effect. In addition, parents should pay close attention to their children's reactions after taking the medication. Once abnormal symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain, blurred vision, etc. are found, the medication should be stopped immediately and professional medical help should be sought.

4. Surgery

For some children who are ineffective with conservative treatment and have severe symptoms, surgical treatment may be considered. Currently, commonly used surgical methods include lacrimal duct probing and lacrimal duct catheterization. Surgery can directly dredge blocked lacrimal ducts and restore normal drainage of tears. Surgery needs to be performed by a qualified hospital with professional and experienced doctors, otherwise false passages or other complications may form.

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5. Daily care

In addition to the above treatment measures, parents should also pay attention to their children's daily care. Thoroughly clean the eyes and face, pay attention to the hygiene of the child's home environment, keep the indoor air fresh and moist, and take the child for regular eye examinations, etc., which can help prevent and improve the symptoms of tear duct obstruction.

IV. Prevention and Education

The key to preventing tear duct obstruction in children lies in early detection and intervention. Parents should pay close attention to their children's eye conditions. Once they find that their children have symptoms such as tearful eyes and increased secretions, they should seek medical attention in time. At the same time, strengthening the education of children's eye health and enhancing the eye health awareness of parents and children is also one of the important measures to prevent tear duct obstruction.

Conclusion

Tear duct obstruction in children is common, but it is not terrible. As long as we take scientific methods to treat and care for them, we can help children say goodbye to the trouble of tearful eyes and make their eyes bright again. Let us work together to protect children's eye health!