The main symptom of a blocked tear duct is persistent watery eyes. Even when your baby is perfectly content she will have tears. You may also notice that her nose is dry, not damp or runny as you would expect when crying.
Another way to tell if your baby has a blocked tear duct is that it generally occurs within the first month of life and usually occurs in just one eye, although in rare cases it can be in both. Often a blocked tear duct will lead to neonatal conjunctivitis. In this case you will notice the eye has become red and swollen with the presence of discharge. Tears naturally cleanse the eye of bacteria so when the tear duct is blocked the eye is more susceptible to infections. Conjunctivitis will normally clear up after one to two days but you should always consult with your G.P.
Learn more about causes of blocked tear ducts
