Obstruction of the nasolacrimal canal is a problem that affects about 5% of newborns. This congenital pathology can go away on its own, even before going to a doctor. Such cases are not reflected in these medical statistics. About them just nothing is known. One in twentieth babies diagnosed with this is a case where the blockage has not gone away on its own. One way to deal with the problem is with a special massage of the lacrimal canal. The well-known pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky tells how to do it and what should be taken into account.
About the problem
With a normal eye structure, the eyeball is moistened with a tear when blinking. This protects the organs of vision from drying out and ensures visual function. A tear, so necessary in this process, is produced in the lacrimal gland, accumulates in the lacrimal sac, where it enters the tubules. Other pathways (nasolacrimal) exist so that the lacrimal fluid can pass through the nasal cavity. A good example is sniffing while crying.
With obstruction of the lacrimal or lacrimal canals, outflow is difficult. As a result, the child often develops signs of conjunctivitis. Parents, unaware of the true causes of the illness, treat the child with antiseptics, wash their eyes with tea leaves, and so on. It gives relief - but temporary. Then the inflammation of the eyes returns.
Dacryocystitis (this is the scientific name for the problem) can be unilateral or bilateral. It is not inherited and does not depend at all on the sex of the child. In both boys and girls, blockage of the lacrimal tubules occurs with the same frequency.
If the problem is not solved, then the child is threatened with purulent conjunctivitis (quite real), as well as a decrease or even irreversible loss of vision, phlegmon of the lacrimal sac.
Treatment
Conservative treatment is prescribed to children in the first place. One of the most successful methods is massage in the projection of the lacrimal canal. Antiseptics are used for processing. If the treatment does not help until a certain age (in ophthalmological practice, this is usually 7-8 months), eye doctors recommend to parents surgery to remove excess film that interferes with normal tearing. A probing procedure may be prescribed, in which the patency of the closed lacrimal canal is restored.
Evgeny Komarovsky is sure that in 99% of cases the problem can be solved without surgery, the main thing is not to be lazy and learn how to properly do the massage necessary for this ailment.
How it's done?
Evgeny Komarovsky considers eye massage for obstruction of the lacrimal or nasolacrimal canal to be the only gentle and effective treatment for babies up to one year old. Usually, the doctor says, this is enough.
Before starting manipulations, mom needs to carefully remove all manifestations of manicure from her hands. The nails should be cut short so as not to accidentally injure the baby's eyes. You need to do the massage only with clean hands, wash them with hot water and baby soap, and then it is desirable to treat with a universal antiseptic - for example, "Miramistin".
First you need to free the eye of the crumbs from the accumulated stagnant secretions and pus, if any. To do this, take cotton pads or make tampons. For each eye - its own tampon or disk, treatment with one disk of both eyes is strictly prohibited.
The solution for processing must be antiseptic. Such properties are possessed by a decoction of chamomile, a furacilin solution (weak, at a concentration of no more than 1: 5000). Careful movements with a moistened swab should cleanse the eye from secretions (towards the bridge of the nose, from the outer edge to the inner).
Once the eye is cleaned, you can gently begin massage manipulations. To do this, Komarovsky advises with the index finger to feel the tubercle located in the inner corner of the eye, at the junction with the bridge of the nose. This is the lacrimal sac. The finger should be slightly displaced above this point and made 8-10 movements downward, towards the nose, along the anatomical path of the lacrimal tubule itself. There is no need to pause between movements, let them follow one after the other.
Komarovsky advises to press lightly on the lacrimal sac itself with vibrating movements and only then lower the finger down.
One more nuance: all movements should be directed strictly from top to bottom, and the last (tenth) - in the opposite direction.
At the first movements, pus may come out, which has accumulated in the lacrimal canal. If this happens, you should stop and remove the pus as described above using an antiseptic. Then you can continue the massage procedure.
Usually doctors recommend to drip drops to the child after the massage. If there is purulent discharge - antibacterial, which will be prescribed by the attending physician.
The procedure can be repeated 5-7 times during the day. In the acute stage of the disease, the course of massage lasts at least 14 days. With recurrent eye inflammations, massage can be done as a permanent procedure and done to the child daily (1-2 times).
You will learn how to massage the lacrimal canal in newborns from the following video.
Doctor Komarovsky's advice
Do not self-medicate. The choice of eye drops or ointments with antibiotics is a matter for the doctor. It is advisable to first pass an analysis for bacterial culture in order to select a drug that acts against specific bacteria that cause the inflammatory process in your child. The frequency of instillation is also determined by the doctor. Do not drip drugs after each massage, because there can be up to 8 procedures per day.
If the massage technique remains unclear or there are doubts, the mother can always contact an ophthalmologist at the clinic, who will show her how to carry out the procedure.
Do not use medical bandage and cotton wool for tampons and discs. These materials contain small villi that can enter the eyes and aggravate inflammation.
If there is no strong suppuration, Komarovsky advises starting the massage with a light warm compress on the eyes. So the effectiveness of the procedure will be significantly higher.
You will learn the opinion of Doctor Komarovsky about the massage of the lacrimal canal in newborns from the following video.
