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 most people know little about them. This means that most people also have no idea what causes a chalazion or how to identify one. We address that today.
What is a chalazion?
A chalazion is a lump on the eyelid caused by the blockage of an oil gland. Some also call them meibomian cysts. That’s because the glands involved are the meibomian glands.
Chalazia are not typically painful, although they may sometimes start to get tender. The average chalazion is a small bump that can even go unnoticed at first.
Because of its similarity to a stye, it’s often confused for one. But styes are entirely different problems.
What is the difference between a chalazion and a stye?
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 start out red, swollen, and painful. They actually remain painful even towards the end, while chalazia are not.
The inflammation caused by the bacterial infection in a stye causes the pain. Since an oil gland blockage may not start out inflamed, a chalazion can often be painless.
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, the treatment options suggested for both are fairly similar.
What are the symptoms of a chalazion on the eye?
The most obvious symptom of chalazia is the bump on the eyelid, but there are other things to look out for:
- An entirely swollen eyelid in the case of very large chalazia
- Irritation of the surface of the eye that may also cause your eye to tear
- Blurry vision or even astigmatism from big chalazia pushing on the eye
What causes a chalazion in the eyelid?
As stated earlier, a chalazion develops when the oil gland on the eyelid is blocked. These glands have secretions that keep your eyes well-lubricated.
Sometimes, the gland unblocks itself. Smooth flow is restored and the chalazion resolves. However, sometimes they are persistent and require active medical treatment.
What are the risk factors for developing a chalazion?
Doctors have identified several possible risk factors for chalazion development:
Poor hygiene of the eye or face
Acne rosacea or adult acne
Chronic blepharitis or eyelid inflammation
Seborrhoea or overactive oil glands
Viral infections
Excessive makeup around the eyes
Can chalazia heal by themselves?
Most chalazia actually do heal by themselves. The typical process is for the chalazion to stop growing at some point and then slowly get smaller after that.
However, there are things you can do to make a chalazion eye problem go away faster. Below are some common methods for treating chalazia.
How do you treat Chalazia?
Chalazia can be managed easily if they are small. These types of chalazia rarely have complications or side effects.
It may be as simple as using a warm compress and cleaning the eyelids. For the former, you may want to add mild pressure. For example, very gently massage the chalazion towards the edge of the eyelid.
As for eyelid cleaning, some doctors recommend using gentle cleaners for the area. Baby shampoo can work for eyelid scrubs and help loosen the blockage.
Again, this is because poor hygiene is a contributor to chalazion development. That’s also why you shouldn’t put on contact lenses or touch your eyes with dirty hands.
Sometimes, a short course of antibiotics can help as well. This is usually indicated if your chalazion is already infected or close to it.
However, there will be cases when trying these treatments several times a day does nothing. If you find your chalazion not changing or even getting larger, see a doctor.
Depending on your case, a small procedure may be in order. Some doctors will do an incision and drainage. This is when the doctor bursts and drains the trapped secretions in the chalazion.
As a simple procedure, it can be done under local anaesthetic. It can even be finished in 15 minutes, with a quick recovery afterwards.
Let us help you deal with your chalazion and other eye problems
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.
