My child has runny eyes all the time. What should I do?
Have you noticed that your child has one or both eyes that are constantly running? Lacrimation can be caused by various more or less serious pathologies. Find out more about runny eyes with Nathalie Voide, a doctor in the paediatric strabology and ophthalmology unit at the Jules-Gonin Ophthalmic Hospital.
What causes lacrimation in children?
Runny eyes in children have two main causes:
- The first is a lacrimation reaction due to inflammation of the eye.
- The second is a mechanical cause, when the tears do not drain properly from the eye.
Why does my child have runny eyes?
Here are the reasons that can cause a child’s eyes to run:
Imperforation of the lacrimal duct
In infants, the main cause of runny eyes is called imperforation of the tear ducts.
Tears are produced at the corner of the external eye. Their role is to lubricate the eye and then to drain into the internal angle of the eye, into the nose. Sometimes, from birth, this pathway is blocked and can cause lacrimation. It is a benign disease that progresses favourable, in more than 95% of cases, between 1 and 2 years.
If you notice that the discharge is too frequent, if the child’s eyes are red, or if the eyelids are irritated and tingling, it is important to discuss the matter quickly with your paediatrician.
Congenital glaucoma
In the very young, we must be attentive to reactions. Extreme discomfort with light, intense runny eyes and large doll’s eyes are the symptoms associated with congenital glaucoma. This condition is caused by excessively high pressure in the eye. The other cause, linked to inflammation, is reactive lacrimation.
Conjunctivitis
Red eyes are a symptom most often secondary to conjunctivitis in children, typically in the context of a flu-like illness.
A foreign body
Some minor injuries in children may be related to having a foreign body in the eye. A finger in the eye, a grain of sand, a detergent or a glass particle. This type of problem will cause itching of the eye, irritation, a feeling of discomfort with light, or a change in visual acuity. It is important to carry out a microscopic examination to rule out these problems and treat them quickly.
What should I do if my child has runny eyes?
In case of imperforation of the tear duct
Possible treatments are to reduce pain, prevent complications and superinfections and relieve the discomfort of continuous lacrimation. In case of obstruction, you can perform eye massages several times a day to open the tear ducts. An appointment with the ophthalmologist will allow you to understand how to proceed.
If this treatment does not work, it will be necessary to resort to surgery. Usually performed under general anaesthesia and in an outpatient setting, this procedure aims to locate the obstruction and remove it. This will empty the tear ducts and restore the tear drainage system.
Congenital glaucoma
This eye disease represents a surgical emergency. Specific examinations under general anaesthesia are performed at the same time as the surgery. The purpose of this operation is to create an evacuation path for the pressurised intraocular fluid. If in doubt, please visit our page on this disease.
Conjunctivitis
There are different types of conjunctivitis, and it’s important to adapt the right treatments to the symptoms. Bacterial conjunctivitisis treated with antibiotic or anti-inflammatory eye drops. Viral conjunctivitisis treated with cold water compresses. Your paediatrician or ophthalmologist will prescribe lubricating or antiseptic eye drops to avoid bacterial superinfections. Allergic conjunctivitis, on the other hand,is cured with the help of antiallergic eye drops or antihistamine drugs to be taken by mouth.
If the child comes into contact with a foreign body
The first thing to do is to rinse the eyes with plenty of water. If it is a chemical liquid such as a cleaning product, do not rub the child’s eye. Rinse for at least 15 minutes with warm water and then go immediately to an ophthalmology centre or the accident and emergency department.
In the event of a solid foreign body, also take the time to wash your hands and do not rub the affected eye. Ask the child to blink several times to evacuate the foreign body. You can also clean the eyes with warm water for several minutes or use saline solution. In the event of a solid foreign body, it is also necessary to go immediately to an ophthalmology centre or the accident and emergency department.