The Visit to the Eye Doctor

Lil Shauna has been plagued by blocked tear duct since she was a little baby. The stubborn blocked duct refuses to clear and Lil Shauna is always tearing on the right eye. It is also constantly clouded with discharge. Both the PD at NUH and Kidslink assure us that there is no real cause for concern. Other than the prescribed eye drop, the constant cleaning, the occasional massage, it is purely a waiting game - waiting for the duct to unblock by itself.

After many months of waiting, the duct is still blocked. Lil Shauna often suffers from swollen eye due to the constant wiping. We asked the PD what can be done and we were referred to an eye specialist. The PD told us that the eye duct can be cleared immediately by inserting a fine wire into the eye.. hmm.. how scary it sounded.

After deliberating for awhile, we decided to bring her to the eye doctor. We wanted to make sure that it is really a blocked duct problem and that there is no damage to the eye.

The eye doctor saw Lil Shauna for merely 10 mins. He explained that it is a common problem in babies. He said that all of us are born with blocked ducts but they will slowly open up. Sometimes, one of the duct will open up faster than the other (as in Lil Shauna's case) and there will then be tearing and discharge in the eye with the blocked duct. They usually leave the blocked duct as it is until the baby is 1 year old. If the duct is still blocked, then will they perform the simple insert-wire-procedure to clear the duct. In certain rare cases, the cleared duct closes up again and it calls for a more complicated procedure.

Since Lil Shauna is barely 7 months, we were sent home with antibiotic eye drop, eye wipes and some lotion. We were told to apply the prescribed stuff on her and come back for review in a week's time. Meanwhile, it is constant monitoring until she's 1 year old.

Total damage - $93! I wonder how much it would cost us to "monitor" until she turns 1. -.o"

Oh, Daddy Lim is super proud of his little girl. Why? Cos she seems to be listening and eyeing the doctor attentively while the doctor explains, as if she totally understands the doctor. -.o" Oh well, if that makes the old man happy. Hehe.

Oh, it is Daddy Lim's bday tomorrow, but I will be busy at work. Pappy, happie 31st birthday! Will celebrate with you another day ya. Muakz!

Mummy Lim