Dr Phil Kieran: What steps can I take to treat my toddler’s sticky eyes?

"Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the layer that covers the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. It causes the white area in the eye to become red or pink and produce a lot of fluid (tears and mucus). The cause can be bacterial, viral, allergic, or irritant."

"One of the most common causes is when the drainage duct for tears becomes blocked, preventing tears from evaporating or being reabsorbed."

My toddler is just over a chest infection and wakes each morning with a yellowish crust on his eyelashes. Yesterday, his eyes were glued shut because it was so sticky. I’m using cotton wool and cooled boiled water to remove it. Is there anything else I could do?

Sticky eyes are incredibly common in children and usually not something to worry about. One of the most common causes is when the drainage duct for tears becomes blocked, preventing tears from evaporating or being reabsorbed. We need to figure out if this could be conjunctivitis or just a sticky eye.