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What Causes Watery Eyes In A Preterm Born Baby?

Posted on Tue, 6 Jan 2015

Question: Water comes in XXXXXX's eyes atleast once in a day. Is it normal, if not what could be the reasons behind this.
Please note ROP tests were normal

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
May be a blocked nasolacrimal duct

Detailed Answer:
Hi...Now your baby born preterm on August is 4month old and by what you quote, I feel he seems to be having a blocked nasolacrimal duct (NLD).

I have a few questions for you -
1. Water comes from both eyes or 1 eye - if so which one?
2. Is the discharge watery or purulent?
3. Is it only at certain occasions or all through the day?
4. Does it occur while the baby is sleeping too or only in awake state?

Kindly get back to me with answers to the above questions.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (46 minutes later)

Thanks for the reply. Below is the answer to your queries

1.Only 1 eye mostly right eye
2.Watery
3. Occasionaly after massage and bath and morning time only
4. In awake state only

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It is blocked nasolacrimal duct

Detailed Answer:
Hi...It is blocked nasolacrimal duct (NLD). There is specific type of NLD massage which your Pediatrician or Ophthalmologist can demonstrate. But I can explain it to you.
Procedure - You need to gently massage the area from the nasal bridge to the lateral part of the nose on the side where you have noticed maximum watering from top to bottom, regular at least 100-200 times per day. This is very simple once demonstrated, you will feel more confident.

Even after this massaging it it not opened up and the eye is still watering, then a simple probing of the NLD can be done which is a daycare procedure.

There is nothing to worry about it.

Hope I have answered your query and made myself clear. If you are happy with the interaction, kindly close the discussion and rate it. I will be glad to help in future. If you need any future medical opinions you can approach me at the following link. Please find the link below.

www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar