Chalazion
What is a Chalazion?
A chalazion is a small swelling or lump on your eyelid because of a blocked gland. They’re called chalazia if you have more than one. A chalazion is one of the most common types of eyelid lumps.
Chalazia are most likely to happen on your upper eyelid. You can get them on both eyes at once. Chalazia often go away and come back.
What causes a chalazion?
Some additional causes of chalazia are:
- Viral infections.
- Rosacea (a skin condition that causes redness and acne).
- Chronic blepharitis, eyelid inflammation (redness, swelling and irritation).
- Seborrheic dermatitis (red, dry, flaky and itchy skin).
- Tuberculosis (TB).
What are the symptoms of a chalazion?
When you have a chalazion, you will notice the following symptoms:
- Painless bump in your eyelid, usually on the upper lid.
- Mild irritation, causing your eyes to water.
- Blurred vision from larger chalazia that push on the eyeball.
Chalazion treatment
Some chalazia can go away without treatment. If your doctor does recommend treatment, options may include either home care or medical treatment.
Home care
First, don’t try to squeeze the chalazion. It’s best if you touch it as little as possible.
Instead, you can apply a warm compress to your eyelid four times per day for about 10 minutes at a time. This can reduce the swelling by softening the oils in the blocked gland.
Make sure you wash your hands before you touch the area.
Your doctor may tell you to gently massage the lump a few times per day or to scrub your eyelid. They may also prescribe eye drops or eyelid creams.
Medical treatment
If the chalazion doesn’t go away with home treatment, your doctor may recommend a corticosteroid injection or a surgical procedure to have it removed. Both the injection and the surgery are effective treatments.
The choice of treatment depends on several factors, such as whether you’re at risk of side effects from anaesthesia. Your doctor will explain the benefits and risks.