My newborn has an infection in left eye, what should I do?

Liz - posted on 01/29/2009

Breast milk works for cracked nipples and chapped lips too!  Just thought I would add that!

Liz - posted on 01/29/2009

Sounds like a blocked tear duct.  Use warm water on a cloth and be careful not to use the same spot you already used to wipe.  Breast milk works wonders!  Squeeze a couple of drops into the corner of his eye, if that doesn't work then you can buy eyedrops.  Go to your doctor first, the kind my son used was not a prescription and it worked within a day.

Caroline - posted on 01/28/2009

Bathe with breast milk on cotton wool ball. wipe eye from nose outwards and don't reuse same piece or wipe the other way as more likely to cause an infection. If no improvement within 3 days or any redness appears take to doctor.

Michelle - posted on 01/27/2009

Hello.

I don't know if you are brestfeeding but they say you can put a little of your brest milk on his  eyes and it helps.  I would also call his doctor.

Good luck and God Bless.

Kerry - posted on 01/27/2009

Wow awesome, I heard about that, I thought it was just a myth or something, thanks.

Saadya - posted on 01/27/2009

Will only work if ur breast feeding. -:-)

May sound weird but worked for us. My newborn (he was 1-2 weeks old) had the same thing going on and my midwife said squirt breast milk in his eye a couple time a day. The next day it was gone!!! Much to my amazement.

Diana - posted on 01/27/2009

Hi Kerry! As an optometrist, I have easy access to the best eye medications out there... So when I saw yellow discharge coming out of both eyes of my newborn daughter (who is now 7months old), I thought it would go away with the best antibiotic that I prescribe to my patients with bacterial infection ... After a few days, it was clear that her discharge was persistent. I then realize that it must be clogged tear ducts. The best way to help those is by massaging them with warm water every time you feed your baby, that way baby won't fight you! The condition should get better in a few weeks... My daughter's cleared up at 3 months. If after 6 months it does not clear up,bring her to a pediatric ophthalmologist. Then they will see if she needs a simple procedure to open up her tear ducts. Hope this helps!

Jade - posted on 01/27/2009

my 1 month old was having that and it ended up being a blocked tear duct. I was told to lightly massage the corner of her eye to break up the junk and then either rinse her eye out with salt water or put a bit of breast milk in his eye. it works like magic. her eye problem was gone within 2 days :)

Tabitha - posted on 01/27/2009

Yep my daughter is 3 weeks now, when she was 6 days old I took her to the doctor because there was lot's of yellow gunk, he said it was pink eye I have drops for her which help a lot. But now it is swollen and red, which is most likely a blocked tear duct, I have taken my finger and gently pushed on the swollen part, which helped release a lot of the pussy discharge. It didn't hurt her, I think it helped to relieve a lot of the pressure. I use warm wash clothes as well to help clean it.

Ally - posted on 01/27/2009

clogged tear ducts are a common problem in newborns thats can lead to goopy morning eyes. I would take her to the doc to rule out an infection and use a warm wash cloth to clean the eye several tilmes a day. Gentle massage to the inner corner of the babys eye several times a day will also help if it is a clogged tear duct.

Erin - posted on 01/27/2009

my daughter also had some gunk in her left eye when she was a month old i took her to the doctor and it was pink eye so the doc gave her some eye drops if  iwere just  to be safe i would take her to the doc okay well best of luck

Alison - posted on 01/27/2009

hi there. my daughter has the same problem. My midwife advises cleaning it from the corner outwards with a cotton wool ball soaked in cooled boiled water as often as necessary. If it becomes sore and red(it did with my daughter at four weeks old) your doctor can prescribe drops to clear any infection. These cleared the infection very quickly in my daughter. At three months she still has the gunky eye but no infection. my doctor suspects a blocked tear duct. He says this usually rectifies itself as the baby gets older. I know its unpleasant but i can assure you it isnt serious.

If your unsure take her to see the doctor, if only to put your mind at ease.

I hope this helps.

ali