Those tiny, fresh-faced newborn features are easy to worry about when something doesn’t look quite right. If you’ve noticed a little goop, tearing, or crust around your baby’s eyes, you’re not alone. Eye discharge is very common in newborns, and while it can look concerning, it’s often caused by something simple and treatable. Understanding what’s behind your baby’s symptoms and knowing when to take action can help you feel more confident and at ease as you care for your baby. So, before you load up the car seat and rush to the emergency room, know that most causes of newborn eye discharge aren’t cause for serious concern and can be managed at home.
What is newborn eye discharge?
Babies are famous for leaking from every available opening, and eyes are no exception. Sticky, yellow, or greenish eye discharge is very common among newborns. It’s usually harmless, temporary, and resolves by about your child’s first birthday. Eye discharge in the absence of any other symptoms is rarely a cause for concern.
More often than not, eye discharge is caused by a blocked tear duct or a minor infection. However, if your child is sensitive to light, is producing significant amounts of discharge, seems to be in pain, has a fever, rash, or other symptoms alongside eye discharge, or if you’re just worried, those are all reasons to talk with your child’s pediatrician.
Common Causes of Sticky or Goopy Eyes in Newborns
An estimated one in five babies is born with tear ducts that aren’t fully developed. Because babies don’t produce tears for the first few weeks of life, most blocked tear ducts aren’t identified at birth. If a membrane in the tear duct doesn’t open, tears can’t drain; they back up, causing a discolored discharge.
If eye discharge isn’t caused by a blocked tear duct, it may be caused by an infection, chemical irritant, environmental irritant, or allergies.
Blocked Tear Duct in Babies
A nasolacrimal duct obstruction, also known as a blocked tear duct, happens in about five percent of newborns, usually in the first few days or weeks after birth.
Symptoms of a blocked tear duct can include: red or swollen eyelids, eyes crusted closed, and yellowish eye discharge. If only one eye is affected, it’s likely the result of a blocked tear duct, not an infection. Infections are more likely to impact both eyes as bacteria spreads from one eye to the other.
When the tear duct is blocked, tears can’t flush the eye or drain normally. Instead, the tears and whatever they were trying to flush out get stuck in the eye, causing irritation and discharge. Blocked tear ducts usually resolve on their own with limited intervention.
Blocked Tear Duct vs Pink Eye
It can be difficult to tell the difference between a blocked tear duct and an infection. In conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, the whites of the eyes are red, the eye and lower eyelid are irritated, and the eye produces discharge. It could be caused by bacteria, a virus, or allergies.
Pink eye is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin layer of tissue that covers the white of the eye. Young children are more susceptible to infections because of their underdeveloped immune systems, but only about two percent of babies get pink eye during the first month of life. That’s part of the reason why most cases of eye discharge can be blamed on a blocked tear duct.
Symptoms of a Blocked Tear Duct
- Redness in the whites of the eyes
- Chronic eye infections
- Painful swelling near the inside corner of the eye
- Crusty eyelids
- Discharge
- Blurred vision
Symptoms of Conjunctivitis
- Itchy, irritated eyes
- Swollen eyelids
- Redness in the whites of the eyes
- Mild sensitivity to light
- Burning or stinging in the eyes
- Eyelids that are stuck or crusted together in the morning
- Clear, thin fluid leaking from the eyes, most often from a virus or allergies
- Green or yellow discharge
- Ear infection
Newborn Eye Infection
Newborns may get an eye infection from pathogens they’re exposed to during the birthing process, which is why babies typically get antibiotic medicine applied to their eyes shortly after birth. During the first few hours of life, medical providers will give your baby an eye ointment or drops that kill common eye-infecting bacteria.
Common Types of Newborn Eye Infections
Gonococcal conjunctivitis: Caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which a baby can pick up from an infected parent during the birthing process. Antibiotic eye drops or ointment applied shortly after birth can help to prevent this type of conjunctivitis.
Inclusion conjunctivitis: Caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, this is the most common type. Symptoms, including red eyes, swollen eyelids, and eye discharge, usually start between 5 and 14 days after birth. Antibiotics may be needed to clear the infection.
Others: Eye infections can also be caused by bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhea, or Chlamydia trachomatis. They may also be caused by viruses, including adenoviruses and herpes viruses.
Eye Irritation After Birth
Eye drops or ointment are applied to a newborn’s eyes shortly after birth as a precaution against severe forms of conjunctivitis. In some cases, those medications cause a chemical irritation leading to redness and possible drainage. Irritation is usually temporary and resolves within about 36 hours.
How to Treat Newborn Eye Discharge
Most cases of conjunctivitis in babies are mild and resolve pretty quickly. Likewise, most blocked tear ducts resolve as your baby continues to grow and the tear ducts finish developing. It’s worth noting that wind, cold weather, and strong sunlight can all worsen a blocked tear duct.
In some cases, you can take basic actions at home or engage your child’s pediatrician.
Home Remedies for Newborn Eye Issues
Whether your child has a blocked tear duct or an infection, a gentle cleaning can be comforting. Soak a soft cloth in warm water and gently wipe away the discharge. Gentle pressure can also help to clear a blocked duct.
Make sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after touching the area around your child’s eyes.
Medical Treatment for Newborn Eye Infection
Most blocked ducts or eye infections are minor and resolve with minimal intervention, but there are instances where you should consult your child’s pediatrician. If you see new or worsening redness in the eyes, swelling, or if drainage gets worse, your child has difficulty opening their eyes, or they have additional symptoms like a fever or cough, talk with your child’s pediatrician. Your child may need antibiotics or other medical interventions to resolve the issue.
When to See a Doctor for Newborn Eye Issues
Most of the time, you don’t need to visit the pediatrician if there is a little eye discharge, but it’s important to know when to get help.
Signs of potentially serious eye problems include chronically watery eyes, sensitivity to light, persistent redness, droopy eyelids, or cloudy eyes. If your child has eye discharge alongside a fever, rash, or other signs of illness, or if you’re just worried, that’s also a good reason to visit the doctor.
Can sticky eyes in newborns be prevented?
You can’t totally eliminate the risk of sticky eyes happening every now and again. If your baby has a blocked tear duct, there’s nothing you can do except manage their discomfort while it resolves, and there’s nothing you could have done to prevent it.
You can, however, minimize the likelihood of conjunctivitis by reducing the chances of your baby getting an infection. It’s recommended that birthing parents get tested for STIs during pregnancy. If something is found, treatment can be administered before birth. Once you get your baby home, make sure to wash your hands regularly and disinfect surfaces to protect your baby from infections.
Sources:
Healthline: Why Does My Newborn Have Eye Discharge?
Mayo Clinic: Blocked Tear Duct
Cedars Sinai: Blocked Tear Duct (Dacryostenosis) in Children
University of Rochester Medicine: Blocked Tear Duct (Dacryostenosis) in Children
Nationwide Childrens: What is conjunctivitis in children?
Learning About Bacterial Conjunctivitis in Newborns
Medical News Today: What to Know About Eye Discharge in Newborns
Nationwide Children’s: Eye Medicine and Vitamin K Injection for Newborns
American Academy of Opthamology: How Serious is Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) In Babies?
Mayo Clinic: Erythromycin (ophthalmic route)
Cleveland Clinic: Blocked Tear Duct (Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction)
WebMD: Why Does My Baby Have Eye Discharge?
UF Health: Neonatal Conjunctivitis
American Academy of Opthamology: How Serious is Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) In Babies?
National Eye Institute: Pink Eye in Newborns
University of Michigan: Pink Eye in Newborns
American Optometric Association: Infant Vision: Birth to 24 Months of Age
University Hospitals: Signs Your Child Needs To See a Pediatric Ophthalmologist
