Natural Treatment for a Blocked Tear Duct

Tear ducts are tiny tubes that extend from the eye into the nose where tears usually drain from the eye. When they become blocked, the opening of the tear duct doesn’t open properly to let tears drain from the eyes. Obstructed tear ducts can be due to bacteria, fungi, dirt and viruses. Infants often get blocked ducts, as their skin is so new and dealing with the impacts of their environment. Whatever the cause, you can use a natural cure for a clogged tear duct that can involve massage, breast milk, or any of a number of simple ingredients.

Diagnosis and Allopathic Treatment

Your doctor will perform a physical exam and check medical history to confirm that the tear duct is obstructed. Various tests may be needed to determine if tears are draining correctly from the eyes, as well as the quantity of tears. Your doctor will also try to find out where the blockage is located and what caused it. Typically, treatment is not necessary for babies born with obstructed tear ducts, and blocked ducts tend to resolve on their own by the first birthday. If infection is apparent, antibiotics are often needed to alleviate swelling, redness, or yellowish discharge. A probing procedure, which helps to unclog the ducts, is another option if the duct does not clear up between 6 months and 1 year of age. For abnormal growths and structural problems, surgery is often necessary.

Use of Massage

The web site yogawiz.com recommends that blockage due to an infection (typically something like the mumps) can benefit from a simple natural cure that entails a massage with a damp, warm cloth. If the infection proves stubborn, put a few drops of tea tree oil in the warm water, mix, and then soak the cloth in it. Put the cloth on the affected area and massage in a circular motion for a few minutes–one way, and then the other–and repeat every hour. Also, avoid being around cut onions, or any other irritating items, until your tear duct clears. If the problem persists, consult your physician.

Infant and Child Treatment

According to the Self Care Navigator website, about 30 percent of children will experience a clogged tear duct. For a natural cure, start by checking the child’s eyelids for pus. A little pus in the eye’s corner usually means simple blockage. Use cotton balls and warm water to clear it away. Do this several times a day. If the pus spreads, the child has a more serious secondary infection and should be taken to their pediatrician. Use massage as a natural cure for an obstructed tear duct: Take a cotton swab and apply it to the inner corner of the eye, then gently press upward until you see clear fluid come from the corner of the eye. If the eyelid becomes swollen, red or hot to the touch, call your pediatrician.

The web site greenourkids.com suggests that you can use breast milk as drops and put them in the eyes to clear up blockage in a few days.