Nursing and massage for nasolacrimal duct hypoplasia

The health of the baby is what parents are most concerned about, but things are not always as they wish. Some babies are born with congenital problems, such as incomplete development of the nasolacrimal duct. However, parents do not need to worry too much about this disease. Nasolacrimal duct hypoplasia is a common problem in infants and can be cured through proper massage or treatment.

1. What is nasolacrimal duct hypoplasia

Nasolacrimal duct hypoplasia is a common problem in infants. Because the nasolacrimal ducts of infants are very thin and sometimes even adhered, this affects the tears produced by the eyes from flowing back into the nose through the nasolacrimal ducts for absorption. The water in the residual tears in the eye evaporates, leaving behind tear solutes similar to sticky secretions. However, sticky secretions are not caused by infection and antibiotics should not be used routinely. If massaging the lower part of the inner canthus does not work, the patient should undergo nasolacrimal duct irrigation or unblocking.

2. Nursing of nasolacrimal duct hypoplasia

95% of babies' nasolacrimal duct hypoplasia will heal within 6 months, but for a few babies it will take a little longer to heal, so as long as you keep the baby's hands clean and avoid infection, everything will be fine.

Parents should also wash their hands frequently to avoid bringing bacteria into the baby's eyes. If infection has already occurred, early detection and early treatment should be achieved. Appropriate use of ofloxacin eye drops can effectively control the infection.

3. Massage for nasolacrimal duct hypoplasia

In the early stage, local compression massage of the lacrimal sac is used. Specifically, wash your hands, find the subcutaneous tubular structure between the inner side of the palpebral fissure and the root of the nose, and press with your fingertips toward the nasal cavity to allow the lacrimal sac secretions to flush open the closed membrane downward. Do this for 3 to 5 minutes each time, once in the morning and once in the evening.

For babies who have already developed an infection, apply antibiotic eye drops to the eyes after pressing. It should be noted that babies usually start with an infection in one eye, so you need to take both eyes into consideration when massaging and applying eye drops, not just one side.

If continuous massage for one week has no effect, you should go to the hospital immediately and see a specialist for appropriate treatment.

Treatment of nasolacrimal duct hypoplasia

About 90% of patients will spontaneously resolve or recover within 6 weeks after birth. During the period from 6 months to 1 and a half years old, if the nasolacrimal duct hypoplasia still exists, the chance of self-healing is very small, and tear duct probing can be performed (to avoid affecting the development of the orbital bones of infants and young children, it is best to wait until the orbital development is finalized after 3 years old before performing surgery). Tear duct flushing and probing are not easy for infants. They require forcibly holding down the child's head or performing them under general anesthesia, which is difficult for both the child and the parents to accept.