birthTIPS
It is not uncommon to notice a clear, white to yellow discharge at the inner corner of your baby's eye (or eyes), especially in the first 48 hours following the birth. There may also be a crust formed on the eyelid and eyelashes, causing the eyelids to 'stick' together slightly (particularly after the baby has been sleeping). This is often referred to as a 'sticky eye', and is not usually an infection in newborns.
Sticky eyes occur when the extremely fine tear duct that leads from the inner corner of the baby's eyes (near their nose) is blocked by fluid and debris (such as amniotic fluid, vernix or skin cells). Newborns have difficulty flushing their own eye out, as they do not produce tears in the early weeks.
The sticky eye(s) should be bathed frequently (at every feed if severe) with sterile salt water (similar to the solution used to clean contact lenses) and clean cotton balls. Some parents will use cooled boiled water in the absence of sterile salt water, but this may irritate the baby's eyes if used very often. The tear duct (lying under the skin between the inner eye and nose) can also be gently massaged towards the baby's nose, to help clear the duct. If sticky eyes are not bathed regularly, the stagnant, sticky secretions can occasionally lead to an infection of the tear duct (or 'conjunctivitis').
Image 11-69 shows where the tear duct can be gently massaged up towards the baby's nose.
Note: Sticky eyes are usually different to the highly contagious eye infection 'conjunctivitis' (that is more prevalent in toddlers and older children). Conjunctivitis tends to have a heavier 'yellow' discharge and the eye generally looks red and can make the skin around the eyes look swollen. If your baby's sticky eyes start to show these symptoms, see your local doctor, as your baby may require antibiotic drops or ointment. Ideally, a swab test of the sticky eye should be taken first and sent to the
pathologist