Newborns may have an eye condition soon after child birth. This condition is accompanied by symptoms such as yellow discharge from the eye. This  may appear after a few days or weeks. In some babies , this condition will clear and may not require treatment, others may require evaluation from the health care provider.

What causes yellow discharge from the newborn’s eye ?

Blocked tear duct : The eye has tear ducts located at the corners of the eyelids. At birth,  some babies have blocked or poorly formed tear ducts.  This may result in excessive  watering or yellowish discharge from the eye.  The  condition may require the evaluation of a pediatrician because symptoms may mimic other eye conditions. The doctor may encourage parents to massage the area around the duct a few times a day to stimulate activity. The doctor may also prescribe eye drops. If these  measure fail, he may recommend an in-office procedure that is done to open the eye duct. In some cases when  the duct is not formed properly, some infants may require surgery to repair it.

Neonatal conjunctivitis : A newborn is exposed to bacteria and viruses in the birth canal during childbirth . Exposure to these may cause neonatal conjunctivitis.  The condition causes yellow discharge as well as redness and swelling of the eyelids. A pregnant woman does not need to have an active bacteria for the child to have exposure . However if she does have active bacteria or any known condition such as chlamydia , the doctor may recommend a cesarean section  to reduce the baby’s exposure to the condition.