Why are there tears in the baby's eyes?

It is normal to shed tears. We usually shed tears when we are sad, or when we are exposed to irritating foods such as chili peppers, tears will flow involuntarily. Then, if a young baby often sheds tears, parents will be very worried and concerned about the cause of the disease. So, what is the reason for tears in babies' eyes? Let's take a closer look below.

1. Eyelid lesions. Because the normal position, structure, and movement of the eyelids are important conditions for ensuring the normal operation of tears and their excretion into the nasal cavity, if the facial nerve that controls the eyelids is paralyzed, the eyelids cannot open and close normally, which will cause epiphora. Another example is severe blepharitis, chronic conjunctivitis and trachoma. The lesions cause the eyelid margin to thicken, and when the eyelid is away from the surface of the eyeball, the tears cannot be discharged into the nasal cavity through the tear duct, but can only overflow from the eyelid margin and flow down the surface.

2. Cornea. It’s the “black eyes” part. Corneal lesions are often caused by bacterial or viral infections. The onset is acute, mainly characterized by symptoms of corneal irritation such as eye pain, photophobia, and tearing. Corneal diseases can seriously affect children's vision and even cause blindness, so parents must pay attention to their children's sudden tears and eye pain and never delay diagnosis and treatment.

3. Eyelashes. Any cause of entropion can cause "inverted eyelids" (commonly known as "inverted hair"), among which trachoma and blepharitis are the most common. As eyelashes grow backwards and rub against the cornea, children will tear, be afraid of light, and feel pain.

4. Inflammation of the tear duct. It is also a common cause of epiphora. Diseases such as sty and cellulitis can spread to the lacrimal canaliculi and lacrimal sac. When tears remain in the lacrimal sac for a long time, bacteria will multiply and cause lacrimal canaliculi or dacryocystitis. Not only will there be symptoms of excessive tearing, but acute or chronic dacryocystitis may also occur, leading to the formation of lacrimal sac scars. Inflammation of the lacrimal duct causes blockage of the narrow part of the tear duct, where the lacrimal duct meets the lacrimal sac, and epiphora occurs.

5. Inflammation of the nasal cavity. Trauma, nasal polyps, significant lateral deviation of the nasal septum or nasal tumors can cause obstruction or stenosis of the tear duct and also cause epiphora.

6. Congenital glaucoma. This is a disease that seriously endangers the eyesight of young children. If not treated early, it will cause irreversible damage to the children and cause lifelong disability. 7. Other complications. Some children will have red and swollen eyes, congested ciliary membranes, and tears when they have colds, pneumonia, or mumps. If the child's eyes are healthy, this condition should be temporary and the tearing should improve once the underlying condition heals. Since there is no physical examination, we cannot be sure what the cause is. It is recommended to take the child to the ENT department of the hospital for examination and treatment.

The above is an introduction to why babies have tears in their eyes. I hope it will be helpful to parents. There are many factors that cause children to cry. No matter what the cause is, when it is discovered, timely measures must be taken to solve it, or the child should be taken to a regular hospital for diagnosis and treatment to prevent more serious harm to the child's health.