Chalazion treatment

Chalazion often begins with a small thickening or swelling on the eyelid, which at first may almost not bother the patient. Gradually, the formation may increase, become more noticeable, cause discomfort during blinking or eye irritation. Because of the similarity of symptoms, chalazion is often confused with a stye, although these diseases have different mechanisms of development and require different approaches to treatment.

If the thickening does not decrease within several weeks, the eyelid becomes red, swollen, or soreness appears, it is not worth postponing a visit to an ophthalmologist. At the Oxford Medical clinic, patients can undergo diagnostics, conservative therapy, or chalazion removal in departments in Kyiv and Irpin. Schedule an ophthalmologist consultation at a time convenient for you — call the contact center or use the online appointment form.

A chalazion is a chronic inflammation of the meibomian gland of the eyelid, which occurs due to blockage of its duct and accumulation of secretion inside. As a result, a dense rounded thickening forms within the thickness of the eyelid, which may gradually increase and not disappear for a long time. Therefore, in everyday language, a chalazion is sometimes called a hailstone.

Most often, a chalazion looks like a small nodule or swelling on the eyelid. Because of the similarity of external manifestations, it is often confused with a stye, but these are different diseases. A stye is usually associated with an acute infectious process and is more often accompanied by pain, while a chalazion has a chronic course and develops gradually.

According to American Academy of Ophthalmology, chalazion is one of the most common eyelid diseases. It can occur both in adults and in children.

A chalazion usually forms gradually. At different stages, the symptoms, size of the thickening, and severity of inflammation change, so the treatment tactics depend on the stage of the process.

Main stages:

• Initial. Blockage of the meibomian gland occurs and the outflow of its secretion is disturbed. In the eyelid area, mild swelling, moderate redness, discomfort, or irritation may appear. This is exactly how a chalazion often manifests at the initial stage, when the thickening is still small and does not have a dense capsule.
• Stage of a formed chalazion. A dense rounded nodule with clear borders gradually forms within the thickness of the eyelid. At this stage, redness and soreness may decrease, but the thickening becomes more noticeable. If the chalazion is large, it sometimes causes discomfort during blinking or pressure on the eyeball.
• Stage of chronic course. Without treatment, a chalazion may persist in the eyelid for a long time or periodically become inflamed. In such a situation, swelling, redness, soreness, and a local increase in tissue temperature appear.

Doctors of Oxford Medical note: if a chalazion has become inflamed, it is not worth trying to squeeze it out or puncture it independently, since this may intensify the inflammatory process. In some cases, surgical treatment may be needed, especially if the thickening does not decrease, becomes inflamed repeatedly, or causes pronounced discomfort.

The main cause of chalazion development is blockage of the duct of the meibomian gland, due to which its secretion accumulates inside the eyelid and provokes chronic inflammation.

The main risk factors include:

• chronic blepharitis;
• dysfunction of the meibomian glands;
• oily skin and a tendency to blockage of glands;
• rosacea;
• seborrheic dermatitis;
• frequent inflammatory diseases of the eyelids;
• insufficient eyelid hygiene;
• use of low-quality or expired cosmetics;
• weakening of local immunity;
• improper use of contact lenses.

In some cases, chalazion of the eyes may develop after a stye, when acute inflammation passes, but the gland duct remains blocked.

Diagnosis of chalazion usually begins with an examination by an ophthalmologist. In most cases, the doctor can establish the diagnosis already during examination of the eyelid, since chalazion has a characteristic appearance and location. During the consultation, the size of the thickening, the condition of the eyelid, the presence of redness, swelling, or signs of inflammation are assessed.

If the formation is large, often recurs, or is accompanied by complaints of worsening vision, additional examinations may be performed. If necessary, the doctor performs biomicroscopy of the eye, and in individual cases — ophthalmoscopy, to assess the condition of the eye structures and exclude other ophthalmological diseases.

The tactics of chalazion treatment depend on the size of the thickening, the duration of the disease, and the presence of inflammation. Small formations in the early stages can sometimes be treated conservatively, but with a large chalazion or if the thickening does not disappear for a long time or appears again, surgical treatment may be needed.

Conservative treatment

Conservative treatment is used if the chalazion is small, appeared recently, and does not cause pronounced discomfort. The doctor may recommend warm compresses, anti-inflammatory medications, or other local agents according to indications. If there is blepharitis or dysfunction of the meibomian glands, they also need to be treated in order to reduce the risk of repeated formation of a chalazion.

It is important not to squeeze, puncture, or cauterize the thickening independently. Such actions may injure the eyelid, intensify inflammation, or lead to infection of the tissues.

Doctors of Oxford Medical recommend consulting an ophthalmologist if the chalazion increases, hurts, becomes inflamed again, or does not decrease after conservative treatment.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment is performed if:

• conservative therapy has not produced a result;
• the thickening has a dense capsule;
• it often becomes inflamed;
• it presses on the eye;
• it causes cosmetic discomfort.

With chalazion, removal of the formation is usually performed under local anesthesia, so during the intervention the patient does not feel pain. The doctor makes a small access from the side of the mucous membrane of the eyelid or through the skin — depending on the location of the chalazion. After this, the contents and capsule of the formation are removed in order to reduce the risk of repeated inflammation in the same place. In most cases, the procedure does not require a long stay in the clinic.

After the operation, the patient receives individual recommendations on eyelid care. In the first days, moderate swelling, redness, sensitivity, or a small bruise in the intervention area may persist — this is the expected tissue reaction after the operation.

Usually, the doctor recommends temporarily not using decorative cosmetics, not rubbing the eyelid, observing hand hygiene, and applying the prescribed drops or ointments. If the pain intensifies, swelling increases, abundant discharge appears, or vision worsens, it is necessary to consult an ophthalmologist earlier than the planned follow-up examination.

In most cases, chalazion of the eyelid does not pose a serious threat to vision, but without treatment the thickening may gradually increase or periodically become inflamed. Most often, complications occur with a prolonged course of the disease, repeated inflammation, or attempts to squeeze out the chalazion independently.

Possible complications of chalazion:

• repeated inflammation and soreness of the eyelid;
• suppuration or formation of an abscess;
• deformation of the eyelid;
• irritation of the mucous membrane of the eye;
• pressure on the cornea with a large chalazion;
• cosmetic defect.

If an advanced chalazion presses on the surface of the eye for a long time, in some cases this may temporarily affect vision clarity and provoke astigmatism. That is why treatment should not be postponed if the thickening increases, often becomes inflamed, or does not go away within several weeks.

Sometimes patients consult a doctor only after the chalazion has burst. In such a situation, it is important not to try to clean the eyelid independently or squeeze out the remaining contents, because this may intensify inflammation and provoke repeated formation of the thickening.

The cost of treatment depends on the size of the chalazion, the severity of inflammation, the need for additional examinations, and the chosen treatment tactics. In the early stages, conservative therapy is sometimes sufficient, while with a large thickening, surgical intervention may be needed.

If the patient needs surgery for chalazion, the price is determined after an examination by an ophthalmologist, since the type of intervention is selected individually. You can preliminarily familiarize yourself with the prices for doctors' consultations and other medical services here.

At the Oxford Medical private clinic, patients can undergo diagnostics, receive treatment recommendations, and, if necessary, chalazion removal. To schedule an appointment, contact the contact center or use the online appointment form.

The information is for informational purposes and does not replace a doctor's consultation.

Sources:

• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• US National Library of Medicine
• American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus