Watery Eyes in Babies — Blocked Tear Duct and How to Do Crigler Massage

Dr. Sandip Gupta

This video explains the main reason small babies get watery eyes, and the massage technique used to fix it. The cause: In small babies, the nasolacrimal duct — which carries tears from the eyes into the nose — is often blocked at the time of birth. This happens in about 5 percent of babies. The technique: To open the blocked nasolacrimal duct, the technique used is nasolacrimal duct massage, also called Crigler massage. How to do it: Step 1 – wash your hands thoroughly with soap. Step 2 – on the part of the baby's nose that is near the eye, apply light pressure and stroke downward. Frequency – do this three times a day: morning, evening and at night. Strokes – each time, do five such strokes — counting one to five — so that some pressure is created in the nasolacrimal duct system and the passage opens up. Relevant for: parents whose baby has watery eyes or tears constantly rolling down from one or both eyes; parents asking what a blocked nasolacrimal duct or blocked tear duct in a newborn is and how common it is; parents wanting to know how to do Crigler massage or NLD massage correctly; and parents asking how many strokes and how many times a day the massage should be done. Disclaimer: This video is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child is different — please consult your pediatrician if your baby's eye is red, swollen, has discharge or pus, or if the watering does not improve.