Sticky crusting around a baby’s eyes, commonly called “eye boogers” or ocular discharge, is overwhelmingly common in infants. This sticky residue often appears after a baby wakes up, sometimes causing the eyelids to stick together. In most cases, this condition is temporary, usually harmless, and rarely indicates a serious health issue.
Understanding Tear Drainage and Blockage
The primary anatomical reason for this discharge relates to the infant’s tear drainage system, known as the nasolacrimal duct. Tears are produced by the lacrimal glands and serve to clean and lubricate the eye’s surface. Normally, these tears drain from the eye through small openings called puncta, flow into tiny canals, and eventually pass through the nasolacrimal duct into the nasal cavity.
Many newborns experience a temporary blockage in this drainage pathway, called congenital dacryostenosis. This blockage frequently occurs at the distal end of the duct, where a thin membrane, known as the Valve of Hasner, may not have fully opened before or shortly after birth. This condition affects approximately 5 to 20 percent of newborns.
When the duct is blocked, the tear fluid cannot drain into the nose, causing tears to back up and pool on the eye’s surface. This pooling allows debris and mucus to collect and solidify into the characteristic sticky discharge. The discharge from a simple blockage is typically clear, watery, or thin and whitish-yellow, often affecting only one eye. The condition frequently resolves spontaneously as the duct naturally opens within the first year of life.
Differentiating Common Discharge and Infection
Discharge resulting solely from a blocked tear duct is generally mucoid or stringy, distinguishing it from an active eye infection like bacterial conjunctivitis or “pink eye.” The sclera, which is the white part of the eye, will remain clear and without significant redness. While the surrounding skin may show mild irritation from constant moisture, the eye itself should appear healthy.
If the eye discharge is caused by a bacterial infection, the symptoms are noticeably more severe. The discharge becomes thick, pus-like, and may appear distinctly green or dark yellow in color. A defining sign of infection is marked redness of the sclera and the inner lining of the eyelid, often accompanied by noticeable swelling of the eyelid itself.
The stagnant fluid in a blocked duct can become a breeding ground for bacteria, leading to a secondary infection called dacryocystitis, which is an inflammation of the lacrimal sac. Signs of this complication include a firm, tender, and red lump near the inner corner of the eye, next to the nose. Any symptoms that suggest a bacterial infection require prompt medical evaluation.
Cleaning Techniques and When to Seek Medical Advice
Caregivers can manage the discharge from a non-infected blocked tear duct with simple, gentle cleaning techniques at home. The area should be cleaned using a sterile cotton ball or clean gauze pad moistened with warm water or a saline solution. Always wipe the discharge gently from the inner corner of the eye, near the nose, outward toward the ear.
Caregivers should use a fresh, clean cotton ball for each wipe and clean both eyes separately, even if only one is affected, to avoid spreading irritants. Many pediatricians also recommend a tear duct massage, which involves applying gentle pressure with a clean finger near the inner corner of the eye. The finger should then stroke downward along the side of the nose to increase hydrostatic pressure, potentially helping the duct membrane open.
While most cases are benign, specific warning signs indicate that a medical professional should be consulted. Seek immediate attention if the baby develops a fever, if the eyelid becomes significantly swollen or extremely red, or if the eye is sensitive to light. Any discharge that is thick, dark green, or yellow, or that returns almost immediately after cleaning, suggests an infection requiring prescription antibiotic eye drops. If the tear duct remains blocked and symptomatic after the child reaches 12 months of age, a referral to a pediatric eye specialist may be necessary.