Is It Normal for a Baby to Have Sticky Eyes?

Dr. Ravi

Neonatology & Pediatrics · Iswarya Hospital

Yes — sticky eyes in babies are extremely common and usually harmless. Here's a quick guide to causes and when to seek help.

Sticky eyes in babies — especially in the first few weeks and months of life — are completely normal and affect up to 20% of newborns. The most common cause is a blocked tear duct, which is not an infection and is not dangerous.

Is It Normal?

Yes. Sticky or crusty eyes in a newborn are almost always caused by:

Immature or blocked tear ducts — very common; the drainage channel from the eye to the nose has not fully opened

Normal mucus secretion — eyes naturally produce a protective film; in babies this can build up

Key Reassuring Signs (No Cause for Concern)

Crust is white or pale yellow — not green or dark yellow

Whites of eyes are clear (not red or pink)

Baby is comfortable, feeding well, and not rubbing the eye excessively

Only one eye affected (common with blocked duct)

Simple Home Care

Clean with cooled boiled water and a clean cotton pad

Wipe from inner corner to outer corner

Perform gentle Crigler massage (index finger pressure from inner corner of eye downward along nose bridge), 6–10 strokes, 3 times daily

Wash hands thoroughly before and after eye care

When to See a Doctor

Seek medical advice if:

The discharge is green or thick yellow

The eye is red, swollen, or the baby is squinting

The stickiness is in both eyes and getting worse

Your baby has a fever alongside eye symptoms

No improvement after 2–3 weeks of conservative management

Prognosis

Over 90% of blocked tear ducts resolve on their own by the time the baby is 12 months old. A tiny proportion may need a simple probing procedure (day-case, takes 5 minutes).

Reassurance: sticky eyes alone in a comfortable, feeding baby is not an emergency. But do mention it at your next well-baby check-up.

Tags:

#baby sticky eyes#newborn#blocked tear duct#pediatrics#normal baby

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