Chalazion
A chalazion is a small, red, swollen lesion affecting the eyelids. It occurs when the oil glands in the eyelids get blocked, allowing sebum to accumulate within the oil gland. This collected sebum can get infected with bacteria. A chalazion is different from a stye, which is a condition of the eyelids that occurs at the base of the eyelashes.
Symptoms
Unlike a stye, symptoms of chalazion usually come on gradually over a few weeks.
A chalazion is usually painless but may cause mild discomfort. Symptoms of chalazion include:
- A swelling or lump on the eyelids that is red in color
- Mild tenderness of the swollen lump may be present in some cases
- Vision may be obscured by the lump or may appear blurred from the pressure of the lump
- Some cases of chalazion may progress to entire swollen eyelids and difficulty opening the eye
Causes
The eyelids contain small oil glands called meibomian glands, which secrete oil to lubricate the eye surface and prevent tears from evaporating easily into the atmosphere. These oil glands can get clogged from debris and lead to chalazion. The unsecreted oil can accumulate within the gland and get infected with bacteria. This process does not occur overnight and is usually a progressive condition gradually developing over a few weeks.
Treatment
A chalazion may resolve on its own within a few weeks, but certain measures can help accelerate chalazion resolution. Some of the treatment methods are:
- Warm compress: Compress the eye with a soft cloth dipped in warm water for 15 minutes, 4 to 5 times a day. This can help open up the blocked gland and release the hardened sebum that has accumulated within the oil gland. This can also clean out any debris along the eyelids.
- Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be prescribed sometimes for chalazion, but they are not routinely used. Oral antibiotics are rarely used, and ophthalmologists usually prescribe topical antibiotic eye drops or ointments.
- Steroids: Steroids may be used by the ophthalmologist for slow healing chalazion, or for chalazion that cause significant discomfort. If the chalazion does not decrease in size over time and causes vision problems, a steroid injection may be tried to accelerate healing.
- Drainage: If the chalazion does not go away, if it causes significant discomfort, or if it obscures vision significantly, then a surgical incision to drain the chalazion may be tried. Local anesthesia is usually used for making a small incision to remove the hardened chalazion. For softer chalazion, simple drainage with a syringe may be done.