When people find strange lumps or bumps on their eyelids, the first thing they think of is a stye. However, a lump on the eyelid may also be due to a chalazion.
Chalazia (plural) are common, but many people know little about them. This means that most people also have no idea what causes a chalazion or how to identify one – both of which we address today.
A chalazion is a lump on the eyelid that is caused by the blockage of an oil gland. Chalazia are not typically painful, although they may sometimes start to get tender. They often start off very small and often goes unnoticed at first. Because of its similarity to a stye, it’s also often confused for one.
The main difference between a chalazion and a stye is that the latter is caused by an infected oil gland or hair follicle. Chalazia are not generally caused by bacterial infections, by comparison.
This also explains why styes tend to remain painful from the time they develop, while chalazia are not. The inflammation caused by the bacterial infection in a stye causes pain, which usually cannot be said of the oil gland blockage in the chalazia.
Finally, a stye is often located at the very edge of the eyelid. A chalazion is often found further back from the edge, by contrast.
Despite all this, however, the management of both is fairly similar.
The most obvious symptom of chalazia is the bump on the eyelid, but there are other things to look out for:
As stated earlier, a chalazion develops when the oil gland on the eyelid is blocked. These glands, known as meibomian glands, have secretions that are necessary to keep your eyes well-lubricated.
Sometimes, the gland unblocks itself and smooth flow is restored and the chalazion resolves. However, sometimes they are persistent and require active treatment.
Doctors have identified several possible risk factors for chalazion development:
Chalazia can be managed conservatively if they are small and not causing problems. With warm compress and cleaning of the eyelids, some chalazia can resolve. Sometimes, a short course of antibiotics can help as well.
However, if after a period of conservative treatment, and your chalazion is still present or is getting larger, then you may need a small procedure to treat it. An incision and drainage is a simple office procedure done in the clinic, where the doctor bursts and drains the trapped secretions in the chalazion. It is quick and done under local anaesthetic, with a quick recovery after that.
If you believe you have a chalazion-type lump in the eye, reach out to us. Our doctors can inspect your eyelid and determine if indeed the bump is a chalazion, as well as provide treatment for the issue.
Call us to enquire or book an appointment for an eye screening today.