Oculoplastic · Lump & Lesion Excisions
Lumps and cysts on or around the eyelid are common. Most are entirely benign, but persistent, painful or changing lumps deserve a proper assessment.
Available at Kelsall Surgical Centre, Cheshire, and iSIGHT Clinic, Southport.
What Is a Chalazion?
The eyelid contains rows of tiny oil-producing glands - the meibomian glands - that keep the tear film stable. A chalazion forms when one of these glands becomes blocked, causing a build-up of gland secretions that the body walls off, creating a firm, usually painless lump within the eyelid itself.
This is a different condition from a stye (hordeolum), which is an acute, tender, infected swelling at the base of an eyelash, right at the lid margin. A chalazion can occasionally follow an unresolved stye, but most develop on their own, tend to be painless once the initial inflammation settles, and sit slightly further back from the lash line, within the tarsal plate.
Treatment
Regular warm compresses and gentle lid massage encourage the blocked gland to drain naturally. Many chalazia resolve this way over several weeks.
For a persistent chalazion, a small steroid injection directly into the lump can speed up resolution without the need for surgery.
If a chalazion doesn't settle, a short day-case procedure under local anaesthetic drains and removes the contents through a small incision, usually on the inner surface of the eyelid.
Chalazion removal is typically a same-day procedure with little to no visible bruising. Most patients return to normal activities the same or next day, with mild lid swelling settling over about a week.
A Note of Caution
Most eyelid lumps are entirely benign. However, a lump that keeps growing, distorts the eyelid margin, causes loss of eyelashes, or doesn't look like a typical chalazion should be assessed carefully - occasionally what looks like a stubborn chalazion turns out to be something that needs a biopsy.
Read about eyelid tumours →Book a consultation for an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment.