“Sticky eyes” are a common concern among newborns and infants, characterized by crusting, discharge, or difficulty opening the eyes. This symptom is typically caused by an imbalance in the eye’s natural drainage system, leading to a build-up of material on the lashes and lids. It is overwhelmingly a benign condition that resolves on its own as the baby develops. Understanding the cause helps parents manage symptoms and know when to seek medical advice for potential infection.
Blocked Tear Ducts: The Primary Cause
The most frequent reason for a baby’s chronically sticky eye is a condition called dacryostenosis, which is a blocked tear duct. Tears are continuously produced to lubricate the eye and normally drain through tiny openings in the inner corner of the eyelids into the nose. When this duct is blocked, tears and mucus cannot drain properly, causing them to back up onto the eye’s surface and spill onto the cheek.
In most infants, this blockage occurs because a thin membrane at the end of the tear duct fails to open completely at birth. The resulting discharge is typically clear, watery, or a slightly yellowish-white mucus, which dries overnight to form a crust that seals the eyelids shut. This condition is usually not an infection and does not cause the eye itself to look red or irritated. Approximately 90% of blocked tear ducts resolve naturally, often within the first year of life.
Distinguishing Sticky Eyes Caused by Infection
It is important to differentiate a mechanical blockage of a tear duct from an actual eye infection, known as conjunctivitis or “pink eye.” Conjunctivitis is an inflammation often caused by a virus or bacteria. The key sign of an infection is redness in the white part of the eye (the sclera), which is not seen with a simple blocked tear duct.
An infectious cause often presents with a thicker, more copious discharge that is distinctly yellow or green and returns rapidly after cleaning. The eyelids may also appear swollen, and the baby might exhibit increased sensitivity to light. If these signs are present, the condition is likely contagious and requires immediate medical evaluation.
Essential Home Care and When to Consult a Doctor
Home Care
The initial management of a sticky eye involves consistent and gentle home cleaning to remove the discharge and prevent secondary irritation. Use a soft, clean material like a cotton ball or pad dampened with warm water or saline solution to wipe the eye gently. Always wipe from the inner corner of the eye, nearest the nose, outward, and use a fresh piece of material for each wipe to avoid cross-contamination.
A tear duct massage, if recommended by a healthcare professional, can help encourage the membrane to open. This technique involves using a clean finger to apply gentle pressure to the side of the nose, near the inner corner of the eye, and stroking downward three to five times.
When to Consult a Doctor
Parents should seek medical advice promptly if the baby’s eye itself looks red or irritated, or if the discharge becomes significantly thicker, yellow, or green. Immediate attention is necessary if any of the following symptoms occur:
- The eyelid becomes severely swollen.
- There is a firm, red lump near the side of the nose.
- The baby develops a fever.
- The baby develops light sensitivity.