# Blocked Tear Ducts and Sticky, Crusty Eyes in Babies

> Why newborns get watery, crusty eyes, how to clean and massage a blocked tear duct, and how it differs from pink eye.

Stage: newborn - Topic: Health - Page: https://www.askcladle.com/guides/newborn/blocked-tear-ducts-and-sticky-eyes

Grounded in: AAP HealthyChildren ("Blocked Tear Ducts") and American Academy of Ophthalmology / American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus patient guidance. Summarized in Cradle's own words; none of these sources endorse Cradle. General information, not medical advice.

Reviewed: 2026-11

## TLDR

- A watery, crusty eye with a white eyeball is usually a blocked tear duct; most clear by the first birthday.
- Wipe from the inner corner outward with a fresh damp cotton ball, and gently massage toward the nose 2-3 times a day.
- Call the same day for red or pink whites of the eye, a swollen eyelid, a red lump at the corner, or a cloudy eye.

## What's happening

- Tears drain through a tiny duct from the inner corner of the eye into the nose. In some newborns,
  a thin membrane at the end of the duct hasn't opened yet.
- It affects roughly 1 in 20 babies, sometimes both eyes. Signs usually start in the first weeks.
- Most clear on their own: the large majority by the first birthday.

## Typical signs

- A watery eye, even when not crying; tears welling and rolling down the cheek.
- Crusty lashes, especially after sleep, and a little yellow or white mucus in the inner corner.
- The white of the eye stays white, and the eyelid isn't swollen or red.
- It often gets worse with a cold, because the nose gets blocked too.

## Daily care

1. Wash your hands.
2. Moisten a clean cotton ball or soft cloth with warm, previously boiled or clean tap water.
3. Wipe from the inner corner outward, once. Use a fresh cotton ball for each wipe and each eye.
4. Do this as often as needed to keep lashes clean.
- No breast milk, tea or other home remedies in the eye. They aren't proven and can carry germs.

## Tear duct massage

- Many pediatricians suggest gentle massage to help open the membrane. Ask at a visit to be shown how.
- With a clean fingertip (short nail), press lightly over the bump of the tear sac, at the inner
  corner beside the nose, and stroke downward toward the nostril a few times.
- Do it 2-3 times a day, for example at diaper changes.

## Blocked duct, or something else?

- Conjunctivitis (pink eye): the white of the eye turns pink or red, often with thicker, more
  constant discharge. In a newborn, red eyes with discharge need prompt attention, because some
  infections passed at birth need treatment quickly.
- Infection of the tear sac: a red, swollen, tender lump at the inner corner, sometimes with fever.
- Glaucoma in babies is rare but serious: tearing with a cloudy or enlarged eye, sensitivity to light,
  or the baby squeezing the eye shut.

## If it doesn't clear

- If it's still blocked around 12 months, the pediatrician may refer you to a pediatric eye doctor.
  A short procedure to open the duct is common and works well. Some doctors offer it earlier for
  frequent infections.

## When to check in

- Mention watery or crusty eyes at the next checkup, and again if it's still there around 9-12 months.
- Contact the pediatrician the same day for red or pink whites of the eye, swollen or red eyelids,
  a red lump at the inner corner, a cloudy-looking eye, or a baby who keeps the eye shut in light.
- Any fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher (rectal) in a baby under 3 months needs a call to the
  pediatrician right away.