While the diagnosis often leads to a prescription for "watchful waiting," there is a proactive, non-invasive technique that pediatricians often recommend to speed up the process. It is known as Crigler massage, or simply blocked tear duct massage.
If you’ve noticed a constant pool of tears in your baby’s eye—even when they aren’t crying—or a sticky yellow discharge crusting on their eyelashes, you are likely dealing with a blocked tear duct (dacryostenosis). blocked tear ducts massage
: Massage is less likely to work for adults, who often require other medical treatments or minor surgery (like a DCR). While the diagnosis often leads to a prescription
Think of squeezing a toothpaste tube from the bottom to the top, then pushing the paste out the opening. : Massage is less likely to work for
Massaging outward can push bacteria into the tear duct system, causing dacryocystitis (a serious infection of the sac).
: Press firmly but gently. If the skin turns red, you can use a tiny amount of baby oil or Vaseline for lubrication.
: Most blocked ducts in babies clear up on their own by age one, with massage helping to speed up the process.