Welcoming a newborn baby is a joy. But it also means new duties, like caring for their eyes. Eye discharge is a worry for new parents, but it’s usually not serious.
Eye discharge in babies might be from a blocked tear duct. This usually fixes itself. But sometimes, it means there’s a bigger problem that needs a doctor.
Knowing why eye discharge happens and how eye ointment helps is key. This guide will help you keep your newborn eyes healthy from the start.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Eye discharge in newborns is often caused by a blocked tear duct.
- Most cases of eye discharge are harmless and self-resolving.
- Eye ointment is applied to newborns as a preventative measure against infections.
- Understanding the causes of eye discharge helps parents provide appropriate care.
- Seeking medical help is critical if additional symptoms are observed.
Understanding Newborn Eyes Discharge
Seeing eye discharge in newborns can scare parents. But it’s usually from simple, treatable problems. It’s important for parents to know why it happens to care for their baby right.
Common Causes of Eye Discharge in Newborns
Blocked tear ducts are the main reason for eye discharge in newborns. Tears help clean the eyes before draining into the nose. If the duct is blocked, tears can’t drain, causing watery eyes and sticky discharge.
Chemical irritation from eye ointment and infections like conjunctivitis can also cause it.
How Prevalent is Eye Discharge in Babies?
About 6% of newborns have blocked tear ducts. Boston Children’s Hospital says at least 6% of newborns have this issue. Most eye discharge in newborns is harmless and goes away by one year old.
Knowing the difference between normal discharge and infection is key for treatment.
Eye discharge might worry parents, but knowing its causes helps them handle it confidently.
Blocked Tear Ducts: The Primary Culprit
Blocked tear ducts are the main cause of newborn eye discharge. Tear ducts are key to eye health in newborns. It’s important for parents to know how they work.
How Tear Ducts Function in Newborns
Tears clean and moisten the eyes. They come from the lacrimal gland above the eye. When we blink, tears go into the tear ducts and then into the nose.
Newborns’ tear ducts might not work right. This can cause blockages.
The tear duct system has the lacrimal gland, puncta, and the nasolacrimal duct. Sometimes, the duct’s end doesn’t open right. This causes a blockage.
Symptoms of a Blocked Tear Duct
Blocked tear ducts show as too much tearing and sticky discharge. This is more noticeable after sleep. Crusty eyelashes in the morning are also a sign.
Unlike conjunctivitis, blocked tear ducts don’t make the eye red or swell the eyelids.
| Symptoms | Blocked Tear Duct | Conjunctivitis |
| Excessive Tearing | Yes | No |
| Sticky Discharge | Yes | Yes |
| Redness/Swelling | No | Yes |
Blocked tear ducts often clear up on their own in the first year. But, if it doesn’t go away, it might need a doctor’s help. This is to avoid long-term problems like chronic irritation or infection.
Conjunctivitis in Newborns: Beyond Blocked Ducts
Knowing about conjunctivitis in newborns is key for parents. It can mean an infection that needs doctor care. Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is when the conjunctiva gets inflamed.
It makes the white part of the eye look red. Symptoms start within 1 to 12 days after birth. They include discharge, puffy eyelids, and red, irritated eyes.
Types of Newborn Conjunctivitis
There are different kinds of newborn conjunctivitis. Each has its own cause and when it shows up.
| Type | Cause | Timeline | Symptoms |
| Chemical | Eye prophylaxis | Within 24 hours | Mild redness and irritation |
| Bacterial | Gonorrhea, Chlamydia | 2-14 days | Purulent discharge, redness |
| Viral | Herpes | Variable | Variable symptoms |
Symptoms That Differentiate Conjunctivitis from Normal Discharge
Signs that show conjunctivitis and not just normal discharge include redness in the white part of the eye. Also, look for swelling or tenderness in the eyelids. Yellow or green discharge and discomfort in the baby are other signs.
Unlike blocked tear ducts, conjunctivitis often hits both eyes at once. It might also bring fever or irritability.
Parents should watch for these signs. If they think their newborn has conjunctivitis, they should get medical help right away.
Newborn Eye Ointment: Purpose and Procedure
Putting erythromycin eye ointment on newborns is a common practice to stop eye infections. This treatment has been around for a long time. It started in the late 19th century to fight ophthalmia neonatorum.
The History of Newborn Eye Prophylaxis
The use of eye ointment for newborns began to fight ophthalmia neonatorum. This infection could cause blindness. In 1879, Albert Neisser found that gonorrhea caused ON.
The next year, Carl Credé started using silver nitrate to prevent ON. This cut down ON cases but caused irritation. So, antibiotic eye ointments like erythromycin replaced it.
The switch to erythromycin was because it worked better and had fewer side effects. Now, erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment is the go-to in the U.S. for newborns.
How and When Erythromycin Ointment is Applied
Erythromycin ointment is applied soon after birth. It’s put on the lower eyelid of each eye. A healthcare provider does this and it doesn’t need to be removed.
This ointment might make the baby’s vision blurry at first. But it’s a key step to prevent serious eye infections. Some parents might want a little time to bond before applying it.
Every newborn gets erythromycin eye ointment, no matter the mother’s STI status. Most U.S. states require this treatment. It’s a big step in protecting newborns’ vision.
Preventing Ophthalmia Neonatorum (ON)
Stopping ophthalmia neonatorum (ON) is key for newborns’ eye health. ON is an infection that causes eye inflammation in the first four weeks. If not treated, it can lead to serious problems.
Understanding the Risks of Untreated Eye Infections
ON is mainly caused by STIs like gonorrhea and chlamydia. These can pass from mother to baby during birth. Untreated gonorrhea can cause ON in 30-50% of newborns, leading to vision loss in 24 hours.
Chlamydial infections also pose a risk, with transmission rates between 8-44%. These infections can cause eye damage if not treated.
| Infection | Transmission Rate | Risk of Eye Damage |
| Gonorrhea | 30-50% | High |
| Chlamydia | 8-44% | Present, but lower than gonorrhea |
Current Medical Recommendations for Prevention
Doctors now check all pregnant women for STIs. They treat infections during pregnancy. And they give all newborns erythromycin eye ointment.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force agrees with this. So do the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control. Some places only check mothers who are at high risk.
Checking and treating mothers helps prevent ON and other STI problems during pregnancy. Erythromycin eye ointment is very effective. It greatly lowers the chance of ON.
Home Care for Newborn Eye Discharge
Home care is very important for newborn eye discharge. Parents and caregivers can take good care of their baby’s eyes. They just need to follow some simple steps.
Always wash your hands before touching the baby’s eyes. Use soap and warm water. Make sure to rinse your hands well to avoid soap getting in the baby’s eye.
Safe Cleaning Techniques for Baby’s Eyes
To clean away discharge, use a clean cotton ball or soft cloth. Dip it in lukewarm water. Gently wipe the corner of the eye, starting from the inner corner near the nose and moving outward.
If both eyes are affected, use a new area of the cloth or a fresh cotton ball for each eye. This prevents spreading germs.
Tear Duct Massage: When and How
A doctor might tell you to gently massage the blocked tear duct 2 to 3 times a day. This helps it open up. To do this, place a clean finger over the inner corner of the eye near the nose. Then, apply gentle pressure in a downward motion.
Being consistent with home care is important. Blocked tear ducts usually get better in a few months. But some might take up to a year.
Keep the baby’s eyes safe from wind, cold, and strong sunlight. These things can make symptoms worse.
If the side of the newborn’s nose gets red or swollen during massage, stop right away. Then, call a doctor. By following these steps and keeping things clean, you can take good care of your newborn’s eye health at home.
When to Seek Medical Attention for Eye Issues
It’s important to know when to see a doctor for newborn eye care. Newborns can have many eye problems. Some can be very serious if not treated.
Warning Signs of Eye Infections
Eye infections in newborns can show several symptoms. Red flag symptoms include yellow or green discharge, a lot of redness in the white part of the eye, swollen or crusted eyelids, and signs of pain. If the baby has a fever and eye symptoms, it’s a sign of a serious infection that needs quick medical help.
Gonorrheal conjunctivitis is very urgent. It can start causing vision problems within 24 hours if not treated. Chlamydial conjunctivitis usually shows up 5-14 days after birth. Gonorrheal conjunctivitis usually shows up 2-5 days after birth. Knowing when symptoms start can help doctors figure out the cause.
Differentiating Between Normal Discharge and Infection
Normal discharge from blocked tear ducts is usually white or clear. It shows up in the corners of the eyes. It doesn’t cause a lot of redness or swelling.
Infectious discharge is more, yellow or green, and comes back quickly. It’s often red and swollen. If symptoms get worse, last more than two weeks, or if the baby seems very upset when light touches the eye, you need to see a doctor. Any bump or swelling at the inside corner of the eye might mean a tear duct infection that needs antibiotics.
Medical Treatments for Persistent Eye Problems
When newborn eye problems don’t go away, doctors need to step in. This is to stop serious problems later on. Babies with eye discharge or other issues need quick and good treatment.
Antibiotics and Other Medications
Antibiotics are used for infections causing eye discharge. For eye infections from gonorrhea or chlamydia, doctors give strong antibiotics. This is to fight the infection fast.
Gonorrheal eye infections need a special shot. Chlamydial infections are treated with pills for 14 days or 3 days. Remember, eye ointment alone is not enough for these infections.
Surgical Interventions for Blocked Tear Ducts
Blocked tear ducts need surgery if they don’t clear up by 12 months. A small procedure called nasolacrimal duct probing is usually done. It opens the blockage with a thin wire.
For tough cases, a silicone tube intubation might be needed. In rare cases, a bigger surgery, dacryocystorhinostomy, is done. This creates a new way for tears to drain.
This surgery is done as an outpatient. It’s quick and doesn’t keep the baby in the hospital long. This way, babies get the help they need without much trouble.
Conclusion: Ensuring Healthy Vision for Your Newborn
Keeping your newborn’s eyes healthy is very important. It means knowing about common issues like eye discharge. Most eye discharge in newborns is from blocked tear ducts. These usually get better with time and gentle care at home.
Putting erythromycin eye ointment on at birth helps prevent serious infections. It’s key to know when discharge is normal and when it’s a sign of infection.
Learning about newborn eye development and possible problems helps parents. Regular prenatal care and screenings are also important. This way, you can prevent eye problems in your baby. If problems don’t go away by one year, there are safe treatments available.
Always talk to your pediatrician about your newborn’s eye health. Being informed and taking action early can protect your child’s vision.
NOTE
The information in this blog is only meant to be used for general informational reasons. It’s not meant to be used instead of professional medical help, evaluation, or care. If you have any questions about your child’s health, you should always talk to your pediatrician or another qualified health care source.
Also read our blog on measuring the temperature of a newborn under the armpit for safe and accurate readings.
FAQ
What causes eye discharge in newborns?
Eye discharge in newborns can be from a blocked tear duct, conjunctivitis, or bacteria like gonorrhea or chlamydia during birth.
Is eye discharge in newborns a sign of infection?
Not always. It can be from a blocked tear duct, which is common and usually harmless in newborns.
What is the purpose of antibiotic ointment applied to newborns’ eyes?
The ointment, with erythromycin, prevents ophthalmia neonatorum. This serious infection can cause blindness if not treated.
How is a blocked tear duct treated?
Blocked tear ducts usually get better on their own in the first year. Massage can help open the duct. Sometimes, doctors need to intervene.
Can conjunctivitis in newborns be prevented?
Not all cases can be stopped, but a special eye cream at birth helps a lot. It lowers the chance of getting a certain eye infection.
How can I safely clean my baby’s eyes?
Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe the eyes gently. Start from the inside and go outwards. Don’t use strong or scented stuff. And never share cloths or cotton balls.
When should I seek medical attention for my baby’s eye issues?
If you see redness, swelling, or thick discharge, get help fast. Also, if your baby seems uncomfortable or has trouble seeing, see a doctor.
What are the risks of untreated eye infections in newborns?
Untreated infections can cause big problems. They might even lead to losing vision or going blind. So, get medical help right away if you think there’s an infection.