CHALAZION

Overview & Facts

  • A lump in the upper or lower eyelid caused by inflammation of a gland of the lid.
    • May be soft and fluid-filled or firmer.
  • Other names: meibomian cyst, tarsal cyst, conjunctival granuloma.
  • Eyelid glands are called the meibomian glands.
    • Also known as the palpebral glands, tarsal glands, or tarsoconjunctival glands.
    • Produce sebum, a thick liquid secretion that is discharged into the tear film of the eye, for lubrication of the eye surface.
    • The tiny openings of these oil or sebaceous glands are just behind the lid lashes at the lid margins of both the upper and lower eyelids.

Types & Symptoms

The narrow opening through which a meibomian gland secretes its material can become clogged from narrowing of the opening or hardening of the sebaceous liquid near the opening.

  • Causing swelling of the obstructed gland, which makes the walls of the gland to thicken and causing oil to leak into the lid.
    • Leads to inflammation both within the gland and the eyelid (chalaizon)
  • Hordeolum/Stye – obstructed gland with bacterial infection.
    • Resembles a pimple
    • May be tender to touch
    • A chalazion is not an infection but may follow or precede a hordeolum.

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

  • A physician may do:
    • History and Physical exam.

 

RECOMMENDED MEDICATIONS

  • Medications:
    • Steroid eye drops or antibiotics
    • Usually goes away on its own
  • Home Care
    • Application of warm compress: several times a day, 10 minutes at a time.
      • Reduce the swelling by softening the oils in the blocked gland.
    • Gentle massage of the lump gently a few times per day to try to drain it.
      • Make sure hands and any compresses to be used are clean before doing it.
    • Surgeries
      • If the chalazion does not go away within about one month.
        • For chalaizon that keeps growing, blocks vision, or leads to an astigmatism (an abnormal curving of the cornea).
        • Usually a last resort and rarely required.

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