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What To Know About Eye Discharge In Newborns
Eye discharge is common in newborn babies and typically occurs due to a blocked tear duct. This may be treatable at home, but additional symptoms, such as yellow eye discharge, require medical attention.
Eye discharge is typically harmless and self-resolving. However, discharge that occurs alongside other symptoms in the eye area, such as swelling or tenderness, could indicate an infection or another eye problem. A parent or caregiver of a newborn with these symptoms will need to consult a doctor.
This article discusses how common eye discharge is and explains how to treat it at home. It also discusses medical treatment, other causes, possible complications, and when to contact a doctor.
Eye discharge due to a blocked tear duct is fairly common in newborn babies. It affects at least 6% of newborns.
In some cases, eye discharge may be due to conjunctivitis. If this is the case, medical treatments may be necessary.
A doctor can help determine the cause of eye discharge, and advise on any necessary treatments or home remedies that may help.
Eye discharge in newborns is fairly common. A common cause of eye discharge is a blocked tear duct.
According to Boston Children's Hospital, at least 6% of newborns have a blocked tear duct. This condition can occur because the end of the tear duct does not open properly when the baby is born.
Tears form in the lacrimal gland, which sits just above the eye. Tear fluid helps clean and lubricate the surface of the eye. When a person blinks, the eyelids sweep the tear fluid into these ducts, which drain it into the nose.
If something blocks a tear duct, fluid may no longer be able to drain away from the eye's surface. Blockages can cause very watery eyes, and sticky discharge may form in the corners.
Learn more about blocked tear ducts in infants.
Eye discharge in newborns may be a sign of conjunctivitis, or pinkeye. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin membrane that protects the front of the eye.
Unlike a blocked tear duct, conjunctivitis often causes the white part of the eye to appear red.
Depending on the type of conjunctivitis, symptoms typically appear within around 1 to 12 days after birth.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis in newborns can include:
Conjunctivitis in newborns can sometimes occur alongside a blocked tear duct. However, a pregnant person can also pass on a bacterial or viral infection to their baby when giving birth, leading to conjunctivitis.
Chemical irritationChemical irritation can also cause conjunctivitis in newborns.
Medical professionals may give eye ointment to newborns within 2 to 3 hours after the birth to prevent infections. These eye drops can sometimes cause irritation that can result in conjunctivitis symptoms.
Chemical conjunctivitis in newborns typically lasts around 24 to 36 hours.
If the eye discharge is due to a blocked tear duct, it will usually resolve on its own by the time the child is around 1 year of age.
However, wind, cold weather, and strong sunlight can also worsen symptoms, so a parent or caregiver should aim to protect a newborn's eyes from these elements.
Clearing dischargeA parent or caregiver can often treat a newborn with a blocked tear duct at home. Before touching the area close to the child's eyes, it is essential to wash the hands with soap and warm water to prevent infections. A person should also take care to rinse the hands thoroughly after cleaning them to avoid getting soap in the baby's eye.
To clear away discharge, dip a clean cotton ball or soft cloth in some lukewarm water, then gently wipe the corner of the eye.
If a blocked tear duct affects both eyes, always use a new area of the cloth or cotton ball to clean the other eye.
Tearduct massageA doctor may also recommend gently massaging the blocked tear duct 2 to 3 times per day to help it open. The doctor will demonstrate how to do this safely.
If the side of the newborn's nose becomes red or swollen, stop the massage immediately and contact a doctor.
In newborns, blocked tear ducts tend to open up within several months of birth. However, medical intervention may be necessary in some cases.
SurgeryIf the blockage has not gone away by the time the baby is 1 year of age, a doctor may recommend a medical treatment called a nasolacrimal duct probing.
This procedure involves inserting a small probe into the infant's tear duct. By using probes that gradually increase in size, a doctor will be able to open up the tear duct. They will then use a saline solution to flush out any remaining debris.
Sometimes, the doctor may also insert a small tube, or stent, into the duct to keep it open.
Probing is usually successful in opening the tear duct. For children with a severe blockage, a doctor may recommend a more complicated surgical procedure called a dacryocystorhinostomy to clear out and open the tear duct.
AntibioticsIf an infection is causing eye discharge, the newborn will need prompt medical attention. To treat cases of infectious discharge, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Blocked tear ducts can sometimes lead to an infection called dacryocystitis.
Symptoms of this condition may include:
If a newborn has any of these symptoms, a parent or caregiver should consult a doctor.
If a newborn has eye discharge or very watery eyes, it is best for a parent or caregiver to speak with a pediatrician or an eye doctor specializing in children, called a pediatric ophthalmologist.
The doctor can advise on home remedies that can help. They can also determine the cause of eye discharge in case medical treatments are necessary.
Newborns with signs of an eye infection require immediate medical attention. Signs of an eye infection can include:
If a parent or caregiver notices any of these symptoms, they should contact a doctor immediately.
Here are some frequently asked questions about eye discharge in newborns.
When should I worry about a baby's eye discharge?If a baby's eye discharge occurs alongside symptoms of an infection, it is important to contact a doctor. It may be an eye infection if the baby also experiences swollen eyelids. Green or yellow discharge, or puffy eyes.
What should a person do if a baby has gunky eyes?If a baby has gunky eyes, a parent or caregiver may be able to treat the symptom at home by gently wiping the area with a cotton ball or cloth and lukewarm water. However, it is important to contact a doctor, as medical treatments may be necessary if it is due to an infection or other underlying cause.
Does breast milk clear a baby's eye discharge?A 2021 study found that breast milk was no less effective at treating eye discharge in infants than sodium azulene sulfonate hydrate 0.02% ophthalmic solution (OS). They recommend using breast milk as eye drops for babies up to 6 months of age.
However, it is important to note that breast milk is not a sufficient treatment for eye infections or other possible causes of eye discharge. A person should contact a doctor for advice before treating a baby's eye discharge with breast milk.
Eye discharge in newborns often results from a blocked tear duct. The blockage will usually clear up by itself by the time the child is 1 year of age.
However, newborns with eye redness or eye discharge should contact a doctor to diagnose the cause and rule out an eye infection.
Parents and caregivers can often treat a newborn's blocked tear duct at home by wiping away any discharge and gently massaging the area. A doctor can demonstrate how to do this.
Discoloration, swelling, or soreness in the eye can indicate an eye infection. Contact a doctor immediately if an infant has these signs.
Insurance Denies Newborn Twins Life-Saving Treatment For Fatal Genetic Disorder: 'Hard To Cope'
Newborn twins with a rare — but often fatal — genetic disorder have been denied life-saving treatment by their family's insurance company.
Shortly after welcoming Eli and Easton Reed on March 31, 2024, the family tells KMBC that the twin boys were diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy.
The genetic disorder can "damage and kill specialized nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord," the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains.
While there is no cure, treatment includes "managing the symptoms and preventing complications."
And for the St. Joseph, Missouri, twins, treatment included the medication Zolgensma — which the family says their insurance company stopped covering just one day before the twins were born.
"Time is of the essence with this ... Since they don't have symptoms as of right now," the twins' mother, Amanda Reed, told KMBC.
"It's best for them to receive this treatment now. Because once symptoms start, it's un-reversible. So, time is of the essence, but we are still trying to explore all of our options."
Out-of-pocket costs for the medication are "between $1 million and $2.5 million per child, a daunting amount that we are striving to secure through insurance appeals and your continued support," a GoFundMe established to help them pay for the medication explains.
Zolgesnsma is a one-time treatment that "targets the genetic root cause of spinal muscular atrophy," the website says, "stopping the progression" of the disease.
The Reed family.KMBC 9/Youtube
As the GoFundMe shared, the family's insurance company "called an emergency meeting to review all of the information to decide whether or not they will allow their insurance to cover the gene therapy the boys need."
But on April 26, the board denied their appeal, the GoFundMe says, leaving the family to pay for the life-saving therapy themselves.
"I'm holding my heart in my hands," the twins' father, Austin Reed, told KMBC.
"The fact that their life is in somebody's else's hands, whether they get this treatment or they don't, you know, then that's somebody else's choice and that's hard to cope with that right now."
Without treatment, the twins' outlook is dire.
"Patients less than six months of age at disease onset will never sit independently and will likely to die of respiratory failure before two years of age," the National Library of Medicine says.
And as the Cleveland Clinic says, infants with type 1 SMA — which means symptoms appear within the first 6 months of life — "usually die before their second birthday."
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Mother Says She Regrets Giving Newborn An 'adult Name'
Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer lifeLive your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletterA mother has shared her regrets over giving her newborn child an "adult name".
In a video shared to TikTok in March, the parent, Heather, discussed "name regrets", before noting that she welcomed her son a few months ago. She then explained that since having her baby, she's had mixed feelings about the name she chose for him.
"I am not convinced that I like his name, even though I like his name," she said. "I named him what I called an adult name. I named him Reed. And for whatever reason, I can't figure out if I don't like the name. Or if I'm having a hard time connecting it to him, cause he's like a little squishy baby."
She then asked fellow parents if they could relate to her feelings, specifically those who gave their babies names that she considered to be "adult" ones, like George, Harrison, Theodore, or Thomas. She also said that she doesn't frequently refer to her child by his name.
"Did you have that same problem or do I just not like what I named my kid? Like did it take you some time?" she said. "I mean obviously right now we call him the baby, and like little buddy or whatever. I just cannot call him Reed."
She noted that while she's told her husband, Scott, that she doesn't like their baby's name, she acknowledged that "deep down she still likes the name Reed".
In the comments of the video, which has more than 20,000 views, multiple people praised the name that Heather chose for her baby. They also shared some of the meaningful experiences they had when naming their own children.
"I think it's just because Reed doesn't offer any age appropriate nicknames for the stage he is in. Great name," one wrote.
"I named my son Reid and I love his name! He's a young adult now, but when he was a squishy baby we just sort of nicknamed him… sometimes we called him Reido; sometimes we called him Reidie," another added.
"Not a boy but my 15 month old is Jane. The name is extremely special to me but it was weird when she was tiny. We called her baby Jane a lot and by one it fit," a third added.
Speaking to People, Heather explained that she initially "started wondering" if Reed was the right name for her baby when she brought him home for the first time. "I knew I loved the name, but I was having a hard time connecting it to such a tiny little human!" she said.
She also shared how reassuring her husband has been, acknowledging that he believes the name is a good fit for their child.
"He has been 100 per cent sure of the name since the day we chose it!" she said. "In fact, it was his name suggestion and he compared every other option to it."
However, Heather clarified that she wouldn't consider change her baby's name. She also pointed out another reason why she could feel like connected to her child's name.
"There is a sentimental meaning to the name, so I wouldn't legally change it. He was my first boy after three girls, so part of me wonders if it was still just the shock of having a son," she said.
The Independent has contacted Heather for comment.
Over the years, some celebrities have spoken candidly about regretting the names they've given their babies. In 2022, reality star Kylie Jenner first revealed that when she and her now ex, Travis Scott, welcomed their son, they were naming him Wolf. However, she later shared that she'd be changing her baby's name, since Wolf "just really didn't feel like it was him".In January 2023, she officially revealed what her son's new name was: Aire Wolf Webster.
During an interview with WSJ Magazine later that year, Jenner reflected on her decision to change her baby's name, calling it "the hardest thing that [she's] ever done in my life".
"I'm still like: 'Did I make the right decision?'" she said. "The postpartum hit, and the hormones, and I couldn't even make a decision or think straight. And it just destroyed me. I could not name him. And I was like: 'I feel like a failure. I don't have a name for my son.' So it took me a while. And then the longer I waited, the harder it was to name him."
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