As a result of inflammation of the glands in the eyelids, the bumps that appear on the lower or upper eyelids, which are mostly painless, are called chalazions. While chalazions, which can be caused by different reasons, heal in a short time in some people, they may remain on the eyelids for months in others. Chalazions that do not heal after a certain period of time despite treatment may need to be removed by surgical procedures, also called chalazion surgery. As a result, it develops when the fluids that provide moisture and lubrication in the eye accumulate and form a cyst. The contents of the cyst are usually sebaceous secretions and pus. These cysts, which are called chalazion on the eyelid, often occur as a result of the styes that form in the eye, after they cease to be infectious, and remain on the eyelid by becoming a cyst.
However, chalazion is often confused with a sty because of its similar appearance. These cysts, which form around the sebaceous glands, can cause various discomforts depending on their size. Chalazions usually heal spontaneously after a while with the help of applications such as warm compresses and light massages to the eyelid.
However, especially eyelid cysts that persist for more than a few weeks, enlarge, causing both an undesirable cosmetic appearance and discomfort during eye movements. In such cases, the chalazion may need to be surgically removed.
Chalazion (Eyelid Cyst) Symptoms
Chalazion can appear in one eye or in both eyes, usually as lumps of a few millimeters in size. This swelling is the most basic symptom of chalazion. However, some additional symptoms may be observed, especially with the growth of the cyst. These symptoms, which can be counted as signs of chalazion, include:
- Blurred vision
- droopy eyelid
- Symptoms such as eye irritation, watering, redness
- Stinging sensation during blinking
- Discomfort in the eyeball
Whether it is painful or painless, an ophthalmologist examination must be performed for any lumps or lumps on the eyelid. If chalazions do not heal, various eye diseases may develop and vision problems may occur as they grow and press on the eyeball. In order to prevent these, eye cysts that do not heal spontaneously for a certain period of time should be surgically removed.
Causes of Chalazion (Eyelid Cyst)
Chalazion is a health problem that can occur due to many different reasons. People with any skin or eye health problems are more likely to develop chalazion, as duct obstructions can occur. Chalazion cysts may occur, especially after diseases such as eye infections and styes. However, diseases such as rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis can cause persistently recurring chalazions.
The most common cause of chalazion is blockages in the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the secretions that normally make up the oily and moist structure of the eye. In chalazions formed in this way, the cyst content is predominantly fat, and a large part of the post-sty cysts consists of residual non-infectious pus. In addition to such causes that form cysts by accumulating in the eyelid, some other factors that can be listed among the causes of chalazion are:
- Bacterial and viral infections
- Conjunctivitis
- Blepharitis
- Diabetes and some other chronic diseases
- Ocular rosacea disease
- Infections affecting eyelash roots
- Genetic predisposition
- Can cause eye damage exposure to chemical substances
- Exposure to high levels of radiation harmful to the eyes
- Exposure to ultraviolet rays, especially when the sun is close to the earth at right angles
Chalazion (Eyelid Cyst) Treatment
Eyelid swelling (with or without pain) , or people who feel a mass should apply to an ophthalmologist without wasting time. The physician, who performs the physical examination by examining the eye under intense light, can easily detect that this mass in the eye is an infectious sty or chalazion. In addition, information about the discomfort experienced by the patient is obtained, and it is learned whether there has been any recent eye infection.
Learning how long the existing mass has been present is very important in terms of treatment approach. However, the size of the chalazion may also be large enough to require immediate intervention. For chalazion that is small in size, does not cause stinging or discomfort and has appeared recently, treatment and follow-up with applications such as routine eye cleaning, topical eye ointments, eye drops and hot compresses are recommended. If there is no improvement for more than a few weeks, surgical chalazion operation may be recommended by physicians. The size of the chalazion is very effective in making this decision. Treatments such as hot compresses, ointments and drops can be extended for a while for styes that are small in size and do not harm the eye. However, for chalazions that grow too large or have been in existence for months, the treatment is surgical.
This operation, known as chalazion surgery, is a short and simple procedure performed by the physician in the office setting. Local anesthesia is applied to the eye when applying for the operation. The lump is then emptied with a minimal incision under the eyelid. Making the incision from the inside prevents any scars in the eye. Another treatment method is the application of corticosteroid-containing injection into the chalazion cyst.
The majority of the lumps on the eyelids are benign masses. However, the cyst content removed after the operation is sent to the laboratory for pathological examination. Thus, it is tried to find an answer to the question of how the eyelid cyst passes. After eyelid cyst surgery, all necessary tests are done to prevent the cyst from recurring.
What Should Be Considered After Chalazion Surgery?
A simple operation Antiseptic eye drops are usually prescribed by the physician in response to the risk of infection after chalazion treatment, which is a chalazion surgery. The regular use of these recommended drops and ointments is important for the prevention of a possible eye infection and the smooth healing of the operation area.
In some cases, chalazions may tend to recur at frequent intervals due to reasons such as rosacea or chronic eye diseases after the operation. These people may need to pay maximum attention to eye hygiene and, in some cases, use some medications recommended by their physician in order to prevent chalazions. Otherwise, there may be problems in the treatment of eyelid cysts. It is very important to pay attention to eye hygiene in order to prevent chalazion cysts or reduce the risk of recurrence. Some products that are not suitable for health, especially used in eye make-up, can make the eye open to infections. For this reason, cosmetic products should be chosen among products that are suitable for health. Another group that is prone to eye infections and therefore eyelid cysts is contact lens wearers.
In terms of hygiene, contact lens wearers should be much more careful, they should be sensitive to the duration of use of the lenses and the correct use of solutions. In addition to these, the eyes should never be touched with dirty hands, the eyes should not be rubbed harshly and the eye make-up should be removed every day. For this reason, if you feel a chalazion-like swelling in your eye, get information about the treatment requirements from a doctor's control as soon as possible. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.
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