Faced with the reflex of systematically administering antibiotics to infants suffering from chronic eye infections, Dr. Mare Njoya Josiane, an ophthalmologist, warns against a frequently overlooked anatomical cause: tear duct obstruction. Instead of over-medication, which promotes antibiotic resistance, the specialist recommends identifying the mechanical blockage and prioritizing graduated solutions, ranging from gentle massage of the lacrimal sac to surgery after the age of 4.
This is a well-known scenario for anxious parents. Scarcely cured, the infant’s eyes are red, watery, and clogged with yellowish secretions once again. A veritable obstacle course ensues: « They go to healthcare centers, and they are treated with antibiotics. They switch centers, and they are treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics are given everywhere, » laments Dr. Mare Njoya Josiane, an ophthalmologist. This automatic reflex is strongly denounced by the specialist, because behind these supposed « recurring conjunctivitis » episodes often lies a missed diagnosis.
The real culprit: a mechanical obstruction
Before over-medicating toddlers, one must take a closer look at the anatomy of their eyes and ask the right questions. « Are these tear ducts obstructed? » asks Dr. Mare Njoya Josiane. She
explains: « In infants, there is a valve located at the tear duct opening. In some children, these valves persist and close that opening. »
Once blocked, tears can no longer drain normally. They stagnate in the eye and become infected, causing misleading secretions. As a result, a simple mechanical obstruction is mistakenly treated as a purely bacterial infection.
The trap of medication overconsumption
This reflex of systematic prescription carries a twofold hazard. On the one hand, antibiotics do nothing to fix the anatomical problem of the obstructed valve. The infection may subside temporarily, but it reappears as soon as treatment stops.
On the other hand, this practice poses a serious threat. « That is why we always say: do not systematically use antibiotics for conjunctivitis. We are going to develop resistance in these children, » warns the ophthalmologist. By being exposed uselessly to antibacterial molecules over and over again, microbial strains mutate, rendering future treatments ineffective.
Graduated management, from massage to surgery
Faced with this observation, the watchword is clear: « In cases of recurring conjunctivitis, one must always check whether tear duct obstruction is the problem. » Fortunately, solutions exist and are progressive.
« If it is an obstruction in young children, we instead perform gentle massages on the lacrimal sac, and it resolves, » the doctor reassures. When this gentle method is not enough, other steps are available: « We can insert a bicanalicular-nasal tube to clear it. » As for the last resort, it comes later: « It is only later, starting at age 4, that we can move on to surgery. »
For parents, the message is crystal clear: in the face of endlessly watering eyes, it is necessary to hold back on antibiotics, demand a rigorous examination, and prioritize physical manipulation over the eyedrop bottle.
