When it comes to the health of your baby, nothing goes unnoticed.
Because your baby’s eyes are delicate and still developing, even minor concerns can seem significant. Seeing your infant’s eyes appear puffy or swollen can be alarming, but it isn’t always cause for panic.
Infant eye swelling can be caused by several underlying, but manageable factors, including:
- An allergic reaction
- Blocked tear ducts
- Conjunctivitis
- Eye injuries
- A stye
Through a comprehensive assessment, we can identify your infant’s underlying cause of swelling and develop a tailored management plan. Healthy eyes mean happy babies, and at the end of the day, that’s every parent’s ultimate goal!
Recognizing Infant Eye Swelling
Parenthood is a wonderful journey but it brings about its own unique challenges and chaos.
Infants can be a handful, requiring extra care and attention. Their developing and vulnerable immune systems make them susceptible to even the smallest of health concerns, which is alarming for parents and stressful for babies.
Infant’s eyes can experience swelling. It can be harmless and temporary, because of fluid retention, while other times, these symptoms could signal an underlying issue requiring further care.
If you notice swelling around your infant’s eyes, here are some additional symptoms to look out for:
- Redness or warmth around the eyes
- Excessive tearing or discharge
- Difficulty opening the eye due to puffiness
- Sensitive or tender areas around the eyelids
- Accompanying symptoms like fever or changes in appetite
Causes of Infant Eye Swelling
Swelling in an infant’s eyes can stem from a variety of causes, ranging from minor irritations to infections or allergies.
Allergic Reactions
Babies can develop allergic reactions to environmental triggers like dust, pollen, pet dander, or even certain baby products.
When infants are exposed to allergens, their immune systems may overreact, releasing histamines, and causing inflammation and swelling around the eyes. This reaction is the body’s way of attempting to flush out the irritant.
While these allergies aren’t typically dangerous, they can make your baby uncomfortable.
Blocked Tear Ducts
Blocked tear ducts, or nasolacrimal duct obstruction, occur when the eye’s tear drainage system becomes partially or completely blocked, causing the surrounding tissues to swell.
Typically, tears flow from the eyes into small drainage canals before emptying into nasal passages However, in some infants, these ducts may remain underdeveloped or fail to open properly at birth, leading to an obstruction.
Most cases resolve naturally as the ducts mature within the first few months of your baby’s life, but if the condition persists, additional care may be necessary.
Common symptoms that suggest blocked tear ducts may be the underlying cause of swelling include:
- Persistent watery eyes
- Noticeable tear overflow (even when the baby is not crying).
- Recurrent eye infections
- Slight puffiness around the inner corners of the eyes.
Conjunctivitis
More commonly known as pink eye, conjunctivitis occurs when the conjunctiva, the thin transparent layer covering the white part of the eye, becomes inflamed because of bacterial or viral infections, exposure to allergens, or irritants.
Symptoms that may suggest conjunctivitis as the underlying cause of swelling include:
- Excessive tearing
- Redness in the whites of the eyes
- Eye discharge that may crust over
- Noticeable irritation or fussiness from the infant.
Eye Injuries
Babies are naturally curious and prone to accidental eye pokes or scratches, which is why swelling can also occur because of minor accidents.
Minor eye injuries can lead to swelling in infants because their surrounding eye tissues are delicate, highly sensitive, and prone to inflammation when trauma occurs.
When an injury such as a scratch, poke, or impact happens, the body’s natural response is to send blood and fluid to the affected area to aid in healing, resulting in visible swelling.
Styes
A stye is a red, swollen bump on the eyelid caused by a bacterial infection in an eyelash follicle. While not usually serious, a stye can be painful and lead to swelling in or around the eyelid until it resolves.
Because of the discomfort, an infant with a stye may frequently rub or touch the irritated eye, potentially worsening the condition.
Symptoms of a stye generally include:
- Redness and swelling on the eyelid
- Tenderness or sensitivity in the affected area
- A small, pus-filled bump on the eyelid
When to See an Eye Doctor
Since infant eye swelling can be caused by a variety of underlying factors, visiting your optometrist for an accurate diagnosis is necessary for timely intervention.
We recommend bringing your baby to visit our team the moment you notice the onset of swelling and associated symptoms, but especially if:
- Swelling worsens or doesn’t improve after a day or two.
- Your baby’s eye becomes red, surrounded by warmth or tenderness.
- Accompanied symptoms include fever, drowsiness, or reduced appetite.
- Swelling impacts vision or your baby appears uncomfortable or distressed.
An optometrist can accurately diagnose the concern by performing a thorough exam to identify the root cause of the swelling. This helps them develop a treatment plan tailored for your baby, encouraging a safe and gentle recovery.
Children’s eye exams can begin as early as 6 months old, and assess vision, eye alignment, and overall development. Optometrists use non-invasive methods to gauge how well your baby’s visual system is developing.
In the meantime, you can try managing mild swelling using at-home remedies to alleviate your baby’s discomfort:
- Warm compresses: A clean, warm washcloth held gently over the affected eye can help ease puffiness, especially in cases of blocked tear ducts.
- Cold compresses: If swelling is due to allergies, a cold compress might reduce inflammation and provide comfort.
- Saline solution: Rinsing the eye with a sterile saline solution can help clear irritants or allergens.
Support Children’s Vision
Eye swelling in infants can be alarming but is easily managed by visiting your optometrist. Early intervention makes a significant difference in preserving children’s vision and eye health.
Connect with our team at Total Vision Rancho Bernardo to schedule a visit for your infant’s eye exam.
