Has anyone's child had to have surgery to open up plugged tear ducts? My 9 month-old has had plugged ducts since he was born and our pediatrician kept telling us not to worry about it, that most remedy themselves on their own. But at our last appointment she recommended that we see an opthomologist to see about having it treated since it's not gotten better by now. She said the specialist may suggest surgery to open up the ducts. It sounds like it's not a major deal, but they do need to use general anesthesia. If anyone's gone through this, were there other options to try first?
Thanks!
Thank you everyone! We've definitely been doing the massage (for several months), but we haven't tried a warm cloth. We'll try that. We've got an appointment in 2 weeks, so we'll see what the doctor says. It's usually infected, not just teary, so I'm thinking that's why our pediatrician wants us to have it looked at. I'm crossing my fingers that the same thing that happened to so many of you will happen to my little guy - right before any scheduled surgery it will clear up on it's own! But if not, I'm comoforted that some of you had sucessful experiences with the procedure. Thanks for your responses!
Actually my older friend had this happen to her in her forty's , just one eye. Her eye kept tearing so the doctor said her tear duct was blocked, the doctor pushed down on it and a bunch of fluid came out and she was fine. I don't recommend doing this, but maybe the rubbing is a good idea like the other Moms said. Good Luck
I've only half been through this. For myself, when I was 9 mos old, my tear ducts were severely blocked. My mom took me to the opthalmologist and scheduled the surgery. One week before the procedure, my eye completely cleared up. Surgery avoided.
My son had a blocked duct until he was 9 mos old, too. Cleared up on its own. And my daughter had a really bad tear duct blockage from birth that would frequently get infected from when she was 6 to 9 mos old. After her 9 mo checkup, we got a new antibiotic eye drops, made the appointment with the eye doctor and prepared ourselves for surgery. Amazingly, one week before her appointment, her blockage cleared up! Cancelled the appt and haven't had a problem since.
In the end, it's up to you to make the call on when to make the call. there's no real harm in waiting a few more weeks, continuing the eye massages. Perhaps your dr can tell if there's an infection in there, too, causing the blockage to remain? Plus, going to the opthalmologist doesn't automatically mean surgery. Perhaps they can find another less-invasive alternative to start with before resorting to surgery?
Good luck!
My son had a clogged tear duct. We saw the specialist who recommended we rub the eye with a clean cloth several times a day to try to get it to open on its own. If that did not work she recommended scheduling an appointment for the surgery after he turned one. Two days before his first birthday it opened! Good luck!
My friend had to do this for her little boy it was so easy he was home 4 hours after they had put him under that includes surgery and time to wake up. he hasnt had any trouble since hope this helps!
My nephew had it but they didn't put him under. My sister just held his head and they inserted the needle and cleared it out. She said it was sad, but he did great and then they just came home.
We have also had to deal with this. Of my 7 kids, all of them have had clogged ducts, but only one has had the surgery and only for one eye. The surgery itself is fast and pretty easy. There are other options, but if it isn't going to open up with them and you have tried then surgery is the only way to go. Our DD (our 6th child) from birth had signs that her duct was clogged. We tried the breast milk in the eye (doesn't work for the clogged duct by the way only if it is an infection), we had been massaging every day and even using warm compresses to try and open it up. She kept getting infections and we talked with the doc who said just massage and it will get better. We then took her to the eye doc, who said the same thing but said that if it wasn't better by 9 months that we should start seeing the specialist for it.....and also that if she got one more infection that he would go too. We didn't want to have to do surgery, but it isn't that bad. They put the baby under general so that they can work on the eye without worrying about damaging it because the baby squirms or something. Then the procedure is like rotor rootering your pipes. They stick a wire in and clean out the blockage and it is finished. Our doc put a stint in that they left for 6 months to help keep it open. When that came out it wasn't a big deal and her eyes have been clear ever since. Good luck and if you have anymore questions message me and I will try and help.
My daughter had this surgery at 11months. I was an absolute nervous wreck, especially since she had anesthesia. The whole process took 15 mins, and I made sure my husband just talked to me the entire time to keep my mind off what was going on. She was sleepy the rest of the day, but had no troubles since... now age 5 with beautiful, blue eyes that definitely have tears since she is all about drama. I recommend Dr. Guay-Bhatia from Larson Eye Center in Hinsdale. She was fabulous!!
It's a tough call....My baby's eyes magically "unplugged" a few weeks ago just before his first birthday. Its up to you, but I would wait. I know its awful to have teary pictures and sad eyes when the baby is happy, but I am sure glad I waited and didn't have to put him or me through this. I was going to do it at 1 year if they didn't clear up on their own. You just never know....keep rubbing. I did it five, six times a day. Let him cry a little more. I tended to not let my baby cry much and when I started letting that happen, they cleared. Also warm cloths on his eyes, they say....good luck!
I felt the same anxiety about my daughter's having the surgery for the blocked tear duct. She came out of it minutes later sitting on the guerney (sp?) and eating a graham cracker! That was nearly 30 years ago, and she never had a problem after.
My son had his done at 4 months...even if treated it comes back. They do get a general...and my son had no problem with it. There is no need to worry..I assure you my baby is 5 years old and come through it at 4 months iwth flyingcolors. Good Luck.
We are actually having this done next week. My older two sons had the same issue but they cleared up by 9 months, this one did not clear up so we scheduled the surgery, this child is 11 months. The opthomologist described some problems that could occur the longer you wait if it does not clear up on its own and we just decided to get it done so that we did not have the possibility of other problems down the line. This doctor said that he has done the procedure on older kids through adults and they all report that it is not painful at all afterwards and that they went on to normal activity that day- so that makes me fell better about the recovery.
My daughter had this surgery when she was about a year old. I guess normally it does self-correct, but at some point they recommend clearing it when it doesn't. We did all of the massaging and hers never did...
The surgery wasn't a big deal for anyone but me! I was a mess! It was easy though and she did great. The gas they used knocked her out quickly and she came out of it quickly too.
Good luck!!
