Tear Duct Problems in Babies

It often begins in the first weeks of life. One eye waters constantly, in the morning it sticks shut, sometimes the inner corner of the eye swells, and you wipe and dab and worry. The paediatrician explains: the tear duct is not yet fully open — a common thing in newborns, which usually resolves on its own. Or they identify an inflammation, prescribe drops, and show you a massage technique.

That is the physical level, and it deserves attention. But there is another level — one that does not appear in textbooks, but that can give parents who are willing to look deeper valuable insights. For the tear duct is not just any duct. It is the connection between the eye — the organ with which we take in the world — and the interior of the body. It is, figuratively speaking, the bridge between what the child sees and what it is able to process.