Anyone have any experience with "clogged" eye ducts?

[Beanie]

My DD has had a red bump over her top eyelid for 3 days now. I figured it was just a bug bite of some kind since it doesn't hurt her and she isn't rubbing it or anything. Today at school, her teacher took her to the Nurse because Savannah had said that it hurt. The nurse said that she thinks she has a clogged eye duct and that I should take her to the Ped. The only appointment I could get was tomorrow morning at 8:15. Is this something serious? The Nurse didn't act like it was, but was more kind of "get it checked out" when you can. I am asking because I was thinking that maybe I should just take her to the ER? She said it doesn't hurt now, but I think maybe she rubbed it too much in school today and that is why she said it hurt?

Anyway, is this something I should take her to the ER right now for or can it wait until tomorrow?

Thanks

 

[helenabear]

Beanie, I have had these before and they really aren't a big deal. Usually I just wash mine and put a warm wash rag on it a couple times a day. I haven't had one last more than 3 or so days, but I have been told that doctors can give something to put on it so it clears up quicker. I wouldn't worry about Savannah with it... I know they can hurt, but they never were a big deal to take care of for me. I hope her eye feels better soon

 

[Beanie]

Thanks, Elaine, I was hoping it wasn't anything too serious, but being so close to her eye, it bothered me a little bit. I will still take her to the Ped in the morning, but I feel better now!!

Thanks!

 

[RitaZ.]

It sounds like a stye.

Stye
Related concepts:
Hordeolum

Introduction:
A stye looks like nothing more than an irritating bump on the eyelid. And this is usually true. But untreated styes occasionally spread and become serious infections.

What is it?
A stye is a bacterial infection of the glands at the edge of the eyelid. The bacteria involved are usually Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria that can also cause impetigo.

Who gets it?
Styes are common in children. Once a child has had one, there is an increased risk of having another.

What are the symptoms?
Styes look like bumps at the edge of the eyelid. They may be tender, swollen, red, and/or warm to the touch.

Is it contagious?
The bacteria in a stye could cause a stye or another infection (such as impetigo) if they enter a break in the skin or an eyelid gland.

How long does it last?
A stye usually lasts several days, whether or not it is treated. Most often, the body will eliminate the infections with no outside help.

How is it diagnosed?
It is diagnosed from the location and physical appearance.

How is it treated?
The initial treatment for styes is usually warm compresses to the eyelid at least three or four times a day. These compresses increase the blood supply to the area, aiding the body’s attack against the bacteria.

Sometimes antibiotic ointment or drops are prescribed.

If untreated, the infection occasionally spreads and requires systemic antibiotics, or even surgical drainage, to treat.

How can it be prevented?
In children who are susceptible to styes, gently cleaning the eyelid with a clean, warm washcloth can help prevent the pores from becoming clogged.

Avoiding touching or rubbing the eyes, especially with unwashed hands, can also prevent styes.

 

[marlasmom]

My daughter had a blocked tear duct as a newborn. I took her to an eye doctor. He gave me medication and I had to gently compress the blocked duct several times a day until it cleared up.

 

[AdventurerKat]

Sage had this a few times when he was a baby. We did the warm cloth thing and the doctor just said if it continued happening, they might need to do something to the tear duct but it never got that far. This happened about five or six times before we even discussed doing anything further. I wouldnt worry too much.

 

[luckywife]

I used to get styes all the time when I was little. My mom took me to the doctor and he gave me an ointment to put on it whenever one showed up. If it turns out that your DD has one, hopefully the doctor will give her something like that too. The ointment seemed to always help.

 

[Beanie]

Thanks for all the help, everyone!! I do appreciate it and will be taking her to the Ped in the morning...better safe then sorry I always say!

Thanks again!

 

[MELSMICE]

One of my DD's started getting what are called "chalazions" when she was about 7 or 8 years old. You are correct in taking her to the Dr. tomorrow to have it checked out.

Twice when my DD got these it turned into cellulitis which could be a serious, brain damaging (because of the location), life threatening condition. When oral antibiotics didn't work we went back to the Dr. & were told to pack our bags to be admitted to the hospital (3 days before our Disney vacation ). She was put on IV antibiotics & was well enough to be relased just a few hours before our flight left. We had instructions to go the ER if the cellulitis starting getting bad again - luckily it didn't.

When we returned from the trip, we saw an eye specialist & were told about the chalazions. She had that one surgically removed. We were told they can reoccur with frequency & were given medication that she put on every night.

It did reoccur at another time & I insisted that she be admitted at that point for IV antibiotics because I didn't want to go through what we did the first time - especially with the possibility of brain damage. The IV antibiotics took care of it again.

She now only has to do medicine on her eyes a few times a week (she is 12 now).

Anyway, definitely take her to the Dr. for your own piece of mind. It could just be a stye, but it could be something else. I had never heard of a chalazions or cellulitis before that happened to her - go figure. She has the strangest medical things happen to her - I could go on & on with medical stories about that child!

 

[ash&abby'smom]

My DD is on her 3rd one. Hers turned out to be a chalazion. She had had two surgically removed. We have an appointment with her pediatric eye doctor about the 3rd. Will probably have to have it removed as well. Here is a description of the chalazion, which is similar to a sty: Chalazion, also known as meibomian or tarsal cyst, is a round, slowly emerging, localized swelling of the lower or upper eyelid. The usually painless, tumor-like (granulomatous) mass is due to inflammation, obstruction, and retained secretions of one of the glands (meibomian gland) that lubricates the edge of the eyelids. (The meibomian glands of the eyelids secrete sebum, an oily, protective fluid.) In rare cases, if the mass is large, blurred vision may result due to pressure on the cornea, the front, clear portion of the eye through which light passes. In some affected individuals, chalazions may disappear on their own (spontaneously). However, in other cases, treatment may be required. Individuals with chronic inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis) may be prone to recurrences.

At first we tried warm compresses several times a day. We also used a steriod call TobraDex (comes in drops and oinment). This did not clear it up either. We then elected to have it removed. While this is scary, mainly because she was put to sleep to have it removed, it was a minor surgery. From the time she is put to sleep and we are in recovery with her was only about 5 min. She was two when she had the 1st removed from lower left lid. A year later another popped up on right lower lid. One month later there is one on left top lid. We wash her eyes everynight with a qtip and baby soap in hopes we can keep them from appearing.

Hopefully, you won't have to go through this, but wanted to give you a heads up on this. It definately is not something to go to the ER for. You are definately taking the right steps in having it check out. Your Ped. may refer you to a eye doctor and I suggest a Pediatric eyedoctor.

Please let us know tomorrow what the doctor says. I will be thinking about you and your dd. Hope it turns out better than ours usually does.

 

[micki7337]

I developed a chalazion a number of years ago when sleeping in contacts was the fad. I was in my mid 20's and had had my contacts in for over 2 weeks. I was told that I am allergic to the oils in my eyelashes and that caused my tear ducts to clog. I have only had the one and that disappeared in a few days under doctor's treatment. Needless to say I haven't slept in my contacts since then and dispose of my lenses on a regular interval - and I try to keep my crying to a minimum (ha).

I hope your daughter feels better.

 

[SplshMtn99]

I was getting chalazions almost yearly for the LONGEST time (like 12 yrs). The looks of them always bothered other people more than they ever bothered me. Never painful....sometimes they would leak though. My eye doctor just explained it was a blocked tear duct & some people get them more than other people --- just like pimples.

My general practioner tried the warm washclothe route for long time. FINALLY, my eye doctor decided to try the ointment. They went right away.

I also don't do anything to encourage them to come back. I no longer wear any eye makeup. I've switched to disposable contacts. And I seem to do better with certain lens care products over others.

I don't think I've had one in 3 yrs now.

 

[MELSMICE]

ash&abby's mom - my DD is on eurithromycin (sp?) ointment as a preventative procedure. She had been using it nightly, but now uses it a few times a week. She has not had one since she started this. You may want to ask your Dr. about this.

Good luck with this next one. I know how I felt when my DD had to have hers removed. Your heart just about gets wrenched from your chest when you have to leave the room so they can put them under to start the removal. I will be thinking of you & hoping you don't have to go through this again. (although you are correct, it is a simple procedure - I think it's harder on the parents).

 

[Beanie]

Thanks for all the advice. The Ped's office called early this morning and they moved Savannah's appointment back to 4 this afternoon, so I won't know until then. Apparently the Ped had an emergency, in which, I hope everything is okay since he is an OB doctor.

I will let you all know though, I hope it is nothing serious!

 

[MELSMICE]

Any news on Savannah's eye?