How to Clear Blocked Tear Duct in Babies and Adults Naturally

Clogged or blocked tear duct is a medical condition in the eyes mostly seen in newborn baby and infants. Adults also suffer from this typical watery eye health condition. In adults, it may be because of an infection due to a small tumor. As a result you get watery and inflamed eye. In most cases clogged or blocked tear duct is a common case in newborn baby and it can be treated at home or can be diagnosed by a doctor. Knowing how to unblock a tear duct will provide relief from allergies, infections and puffy eyes.

Newborn child is very delicate and it’s common to have sticky eyes. More than 10% of baby born in Northern America have some kind of blockages of nasal canal.
Blocked tear duct (also known as dacryocystitisis) is a situation when there exists an obstruction or blockage between the passageway/canal which connects the eye to the nose. Adults can also suffer from clogged tear ducts because of various reasons:

• Age related changes: Swollen tear ducts are often observed among people above 60 years of age. Such condition can also clog tear ducts.
• Infection in the Eye: can lead to blocked tear ducts which results in watery eye and swollen eyelid.
• Injuries to the Face which results in damaged tear ducts and it affects the area of eye and nose.
• Congenital blockage, it is mostly seen in newborn baby /infants.
• Tumors which may occur in the eye or nostril which harms the tear ducts and block the tear duct passageway.

Major and Minor Symptoms of Blocked Tear Ducts

When tear duct get blocked there are few symptoms which can be seen.

• Increased tearing and constant water eye.
• Thick or dense tears and may leaves patches on face once they are dry.
• Recurrent eye inflammation is a common symptom of blocked tear duct. .
• People with blocked tear duct can see mucus or pus like discharge in the eyelids.
• Because of the inflammation and continuous flow of thick tears, one might face blurred vision.

Eye is a very sensitive part of our body and it requires some extra care. One should take less risks when it comes to eyes. People with blocked tear duct should consult their doctors. Some times only treatment you are left with is surgery.
Blocked tear duct may be just because of the simple eye inflammation and can be treated at home. However, there is possibility that you might have a tumor which is causing the blocked tear duct.

Home Remedies To Clear Blocked Tear Duct in Baby and Adults

How To Get Rid of Blocked Tear Duct Naturally

1. Clean Your Eyes

Blocked tear ducts basic causes infection in the eye and it should be cleaned properly. Clean your eye with cold water multiple times a day. It also counter blurred vision and reduce inflammation.

• One can clean their eye with baby shampoo.
• Take a baby shampoo, put some drops in a cup of water.
• Take a clean smooth cotton and dip it in the baby shampoo solution.
• Clean the eyelids and wash your eyes with the baby shampoo solution.
• Wash your eyes with cold water.

2. Apply Warm Compress

Warm compress works well when it comes to deal with blockage or inflammation. Keeping warm compress over the blocked tear ducts can reduce inflammation. A warm compress will also control watery eye.

Warm Compress

• Take a cup of water and heat it for a while.
• Make sure the water is not boiling or should not be too hot.
• Take a clean cloth or a clean cotton and dip it in the warm water.
• Put the warm compress over the tear ducts for about 5 minutes and repeat the process multiple times with same warm water.
• Repeat the whole warm compress process 5-6 times a day. It will help in cleaning the blockage and curing tear ducts blockage.

3. Lacrimal Sac Massage

Lacrimal sac is the main body part which connects the nose and eye. This hollow passage suffers from blockage, resulting in the tear duct clotting. Tear drainage can be encouraged by clearing tear ducts with proper massage. It must focus on lacrimal sac which helps clear jammed material and dirt.

Lacrimal Sac Massage

How to perform lacrimal sac massage:

• Wash your hands with antibacterial solutions or soaps to avoid any kind of infections.
• Place you index finger at inner corner of your eye. Near to the nose because the puncta and the tear ducts are on that side. It will focus on lacrimal sac.
• Now with complete attention apply some pressure to this corner. Hold for few seconds then release it.
• Make sure you don’t apply too much pressure.
• Apply this pressure and release loop, 3-5 times.
• Perform the lacrimal sac massage multiple times a day.

4. Breast Milk To Kill Bacteria

Breast milk have very high antimicrobial properties which defends and fight against any form of bacteria. It will help in killing of any infectious bacteria in the eye. Breast milk is an excellent blocked tear duct remedy.
Not just inhibiting the bacterial growth, breast milk will also help in lubricating the eye and helps in reducing any further irritation.
How to use breast milk in eye to clear tear duct:

• Take a well sterilized dropper and suck in few drops of breast milk in it.
• Then gently drop 2-3 drops of breast milk in the eyes suffering from blocked tear duct.
• If, you are out of sterilized dropper then you can use your hands but before you start wash your hand and then take drops of breast milk on your index finger and let it drop in the eyes gently.
• Repeat the steps 5-6 times in day to get rid of clogged tear duct fast.

Medical Treatments and Blocked Tear Duct Surgery

Medical treatments are termed as in the surgical treatments for the blocked tear duct and to help in getting a clear and clean tear drainage system.With minor additions such as taking antibacterial pills or antimicrobial eye drops prescribed by surgeons and doctors can help in fast healing of blocked tear duct in baby.
In most cases the medical treatments basically the surgical one in done on the adults, and new-born and toddlers get treated by home remedies of blocked tear ducts, simple oral pills, by antimicrobial eye drops and topical eye cream.

Dilation, Probing and Irrigation Technique

When blocked tear duct in baby is not opening own their own, then doctors use the dilation, probing and irrigation technique to unblock the blocked tear duct.

Dilation, Probing and Irrigation Technique

Punctal opening are enlarged(dilated) by the use of an instrument. Therefore, a narrow probe is guided through the puncta, then into the tear drainage system and then it goes through the nasal opening. Finally it is removed. As a result, a saline solution is passed through ducts and puncta to clear any remaining or residual blockage.

Balloon Catheter Dilation Procedures

Basically the balloon catheter dilation system is used mostly on adults and a general anesthesia is used in this process because of its need and requirement of stillness in body. The process is very intense.

Balloon Catheter Dilation Procedures

• A narrow catheter( tube ) with a deflated balloon on the tips is guided through the lower passage which helps in the adjustment of the deflated balloon in the ducts.
• Doctor uses a simple air pump to fill the air in the balloon or inflate or deflate the balloon to clear the ducts blockage and let the drainage happens and opens up all the blockage present in the passage.

Dacryocystorhinostomy (Surgical Procedure)

It is an advance stage of blocked tear duct surgery procedure which is rarely seen in the children or newborn. It is mostly practiced on adults to treat blocked tear ducts. In-spite of clearing the blockage, this surgery creates a new route for tears to drain out through your nose.The doctors create a whole new connection between nose and eye by creating a connection between lacrimal sac and nose.

Dacryocystorhinostomy

The whole new route bypasses the blocked ducts through its new connection and stents are placed in the new route. When healing process is complete, then incubation is removed from the new route. This resolves the issue of blocked tear duct.
This reconstruction of entire tear drainage system is called conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy.

Conclusion:

Clogged or Blocked tear ducts is seen in both babies and adults. In most of the cases it is correctable and very few complication have been seen. Home remedies for the blocked tear ducts are good for infants and toddlers.
Surgery is usually recommended for adults and grownup children. In are case newborn or infants has to go through surgery.
Less invasive options are used on infants and toddlers to treat blocked tear ducts. These procedures are also effective on adults such as narrowing of puncta.
Surgeons and doctors may prescribe some eye drops or cream to avoid infections. They are antimicrobial in nature to avoid exposures to external bacteria. Home remedies to clear blocked tear duct are very effective. Consult with your doctor for their professional advice and treatment.

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