tear duct probs?
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Topic: tear duct probs?
Posted By: LittleBug
Subject: tear duct probs?
Date Posted: 31 August 2009 at 12:02pm
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Ollie has been on eye drops and creams for his gunky eyes, basically since birth.
Recently the Dr said that she doesn't think it's an infection after all, most of the time... she said that there may be something wrong with his tear ducts. If he hasn't grown out of the "gunky eyes" by the time he is 1 year old, she is going to recommend that Ollie has a little surgery on his tear ducts. Has anyone else had this, or know anything about it? Someone else mentioned that the amber teething necklaces can also help with blocked tear ducts and stuff.... any other "remedies"? I just try to keep his eyes as clean as I can by cleaning with saline solution, and when they get infected I use the creams/drops etc. from the Dr. Appreciate anyone else's experiences! ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Replies:
Posted By: Basil_brush
Date Posted: 31 August 2009 at 12:07pm
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Yes!! I can definitely help with this.
I had exactly the same thing with my baby. Eye never cleared from 2 weeks old until 5 1/2 months. Had tried fucidic acid and chlorsig (the first one cleared it but it came straight back, and she had a bit of a reaction to chlor sig so Istopped it straight away). So I had resigned myself to the surgery. Then someone suggested Euphrasia, from the Health shop. It is an alternative remedy. It worked for me and others I have suggested it to. Try it and let me know!!! |
Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 31 August 2009 at 12:17pm
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my sister in law had this done with her child. apparently real quick surgery, real simple, wore an eye patch for a few days i think (was an older child) and had no probs since ------------- 
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Posted By: Tastic
Date Posted: 31 August 2009 at 12:25pm
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Aidan had this in both eyes but because he was prem we had to wait til he was 15 months
and what would you know around 14 months they cleared and nothing since I hope Ollie's eyes clear without the surgery |
Posted By: Bel
Date Posted: 31 August 2009 at 12:31pm
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LIttlebug, Luke had this with both his eyes from birth. I worried about the surgery, but around 6 months they both cleared up! Only problem he has now is that the minute he gets a cold or anything, his eyes tend to look "sick" first...
We were told to massage around the eye, espcially where the tears ducts are (corner of the eye closest to the nose) - DH swears this is what worked... ------------- Mum to two beautiful kids 
Luke (09.11.2007) Amy (01.04.2009) |
Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 31 August 2009 at 12:34pm
How often did you use the Euphrasia eye drops, basil_brush? And how long did you need to use them for? They look expensive  but if I might try them when I can afford it.
How did you massage around the eye, Bel? Just towards the opening of the tear duct, or is there a special way you are meant to do it? Hope he grows out of it. Although I'm sure he would look cute with an eye patch, lol. ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: BerryBliss
Date Posted: 31 August 2009 at 12:55pm
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My DS1 had the same prob and sure enough when he was around 1 the problem solved its self. i just used to wipe the gunk out didn't know there were natural remidies out there (this was 5 yrs ago) and the dr wasn't too helpful.
hopefully Ollie will grow out of it soon. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  DD 1999 DS 2003 DS 2006 DD 2009 |
Posted By: Bel
Date Posted: 31 August 2009 at 1:13pm
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I use the term "massage" a little loosely I guess. We used to just gently rub under his eye, it was just to move it around and hopefully stop anything getting stuck (which is what causes the infections) My doctor started off telling us it was infected, but ended up saying that unless the eye itself is red, it is not infected, is just irritated.
A bit of saline and some time will fix it! The less you touch it the less irritated it will get. Good luck! ------------- Mum to two beautiful kids
Luke (09.11.2007) Amy (01.04.2009) |
Posted By: QHX
Date Posted: 31 August 2009 at 1:48pm
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LittleBug, Naturopharm are a great provider of homeopathics, and they don't cost the earth. They should be available at most good healthfood shops, or online http://www.healthchemist.co.nz/naturalpharm-classical/naturopharm-euphrasia-30c-tablet-p744069.html - http://www.healthchemist.co.nz/naturalpharm-classical/naturopharm-euphrasia-30c-tablet-p744069.html
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Posted By: Basil_brush
Date Posted: 31 August 2009 at 2:28pm
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We used the Euphrasia drops 4x daily for about 2-3 days. They were about $30 I think? but it's better than having surgery if you don't have to!!!
They improved heaps on the second day, the first we didn't ntoice a huge difference. By the 3rd I forgot to put them in anymore and they've never discharged since. I hope that helps! Goodl uck 
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Posted By: Muz
Date Posted: 31 August 2009 at 4:35pm
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I am an 'eye nurse' and have worked in theatre and clinics, we pretty much always wait until 1 year of age, and if it hasnt cleared by then we take them to theatre - sounds very traumatic but honestly its so quick. They use a special probe to 'flush' the duct with saline - most of the time this is all that is required and the theatres I worked in do not pad just for syringe and probe - as there is not usually a lot of blood involved.
Very rarely if this doesnt help there is more invasive proceedures - but its not usually needed and they would not do that without full informed consent. You can massage the area, just below the duct towards the nose - this can help clear any blockage. Hope that helps - I know it can be a real pain, Ive seen kids with chronic blockages whos little cheeks are all red and raw from the continual dribble of water down their cheeks. edited for spelling! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 01 September 2009 at 1:02am
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Thanks Muz, yeah poor Ollie gets red raw skin around his eyes/face where the gunk goes... I have to use bepanthan on the skin near his eyes (which freaks me out) to keep the skin from getting sore and raw.
Will try the massage thing and maybe some euphrasia drops sometime otherwise hopefully he grows out of it.------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 01 September 2009 at 8:22am
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Cooper has this in one of his eyes, massage definitely clears the duct out...yummo LOL but it certainly hasn't helped much.
I was told that it is not looked at until they are 1 & they don't operate until around 2. A lady at school is still waiting with her 20 month old. Breast milk definitely helps when the area surrounding the eye is red. Definitely going to check out & try that Euphrasia stuff ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: Babykatnz
Date Posted: 01 September 2009 at 8:56pm
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We had the sticky eye with DD from day 1 (started out as some kind of Staph infection) and we tried breastmilk, saline solution and the Chlorsig as well and nothing worked... I started massaging the area right between the side of her nose and the corner of her eye with the tip of a cotton bud (making sure it didnt touch the eye itself) whenever I fed her and within days it has cleared up and touch wood, but we have not had anything come out of her eye since! ------------- Brandon - 05/12/2003  
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Posted By: flakesitchyfeet
Date Posted: 03 September 2009 at 11:55am
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Hollie has had awful trouble with her tear duct, but the older it gets the less the severity, so we think it's slowly clearing up on it's own. -------------  http://lilypie.com"> |