octmom
10-13-2006, 02:15 PM
I'm not sure if this is the right forum, but it seems like as good a place as any for this. I am really just posting this as an FYI for anyone who may search for information on blocked tear ducts.
My DD had a blocked tear duct in her left eye since she was born. Several of the pediatricians at our practice told us to wait until she was 9 months old and if it didn't open on it's own by then, they would send us to a pediatric ophthalmologist. DD is seven months old now and after talking with a friend who is an optomotrist, I called the only pediatric ophthlamologist in my town who will do a procedure to open a blocked tear duct in the office without general anesthesia/ surgery. We went last Friday and the ophthalmoligst examined her eyes, confirmed the blockage, and told us that DD was a candidate for the in-office procedure. He gave us some stats, but apparently this works best around 6-7 months old and once children hit about 9 months or so old, it is more likely that they will require surgery. We went ahead and had him do the procedure that day and it worked really well.
DD was only away from us in another room for a couple of minutes. She did have to be strapped to a papoose board to keep her immobile during the procedure, but we could hear her cry for just a few seconds and then it was over. The doc used numbing drops and I think DD was more irritated about being strapped down than about the actual probe in her tear duct. She wasn't even fussy at all when the doc brought her back to us just a minute after he was done. We gave her eye drops (one drop, three times each day) for a week that were a combination of antibiotic and steroid to help it from getting inflamed and closing again. DD's eye did not swell or bruise at all and she has not had any discharge from her eye since the doctor did the procedure a week ago. DH and I are very happy that we had it done.
I just thought I would share this information for anyone who searches for information on blocked tear ducts. If your insurance will cover it, I recommend checking with a pediatric ophthalmologist sooner than 9 months, preferably closer to 6 or 7 months. Just my two cents. HTH someone!
Jerilyn
DS, Sean 10/03
DD, Katie 3/06
"Baby makes days shorter, nights longer, home happier, and love stronger."
My DD had a blocked tear duct in her left eye since she was born. Several of the pediatricians at our practice told us to wait until she was 9 months old and if it didn't open on it's own by then, they would send us to a pediatric ophthalmologist. DD is seven months old now and after talking with a friend who is an optomotrist, I called the only pediatric ophthlamologist in my town who will do a procedure to open a blocked tear duct in the office without general anesthesia/ surgery. We went last Friday and the ophthalmoligst examined her eyes, confirmed the blockage, and told us that DD was a candidate for the in-office procedure. He gave us some stats, but apparently this works best around 6-7 months old and once children hit about 9 months or so old, it is more likely that they will require surgery. We went ahead and had him do the procedure that day and it worked really well.
DD was only away from us in another room for a couple of minutes. She did have to be strapped to a papoose board to keep her immobile during the procedure, but we could hear her cry for just a few seconds and then it was over. The doc used numbing drops and I think DD was more irritated about being strapped down than about the actual probe in her tear duct. She wasn't even fussy at all when the doc brought her back to us just a minute after he was done. We gave her eye drops (one drop, three times each day) for a week that were a combination of antibiotic and steroid to help it from getting inflamed and closing again. DD's eye did not swell or bruise at all and she has not had any discharge from her eye since the doctor did the procedure a week ago. DH and I are very happy that we had it done.
I just thought I would share this information for anyone who searches for information on blocked tear ducts. If your insurance will cover it, I recommend checking with a pediatric ophthalmologist sooner than 9 months, preferably closer to 6 or 7 months. Just my two cents. HTH someone!
Jerilyn
DS, Sean 10/03
DD, Katie 3/06
"Baby makes days shorter, nights longer, home happier, and love stronger."