Chalazion removal is the perfect solution if you have a recurrent Meibomian cyst. This eyelid condition can be uncomfortable and annoying.
A chalazion, also known as a Meibomian cyst, is a small lump that develops on your eyelid. It’s the result of a blockage in the glands of your eyelid that produce oil, called Meibomian glands. They have pinpoint openings along the rim of the eyelids, just behind the line of the eyelashes.
The Meibomian gland’s secretion slows the evaporation of the tear film from the eye’s surface. Sometimes, a Meibomian gland duct can block due to inflammation (blepharitis). This causes the eyelid to become swelled and red. Eventually, a visible lump can appear that, if large enough, can cause blurry vision.
Risk factors also include rosacea – a skin condition that can affect the eyelids area- and poor eyelid hygiene. Hence, to prevent an eye cyst from developing, it is recommended to maintain a daily lid cleaning.
You can use a warm wet flannel plus a few drops of baby shampoo to clean your eyelids before going to sleep every night. In cases where blepharitis causes repeated chalazion, your doctor may prescribe you an antibiotic ointment.
Additional tips for prevention include replacing makeup regularly (every six months) and avoid touching or rubbing your eyes without clean hands. Also, you should protect your eyes from dust and pollution by wearing glasses.
Very often, people confuse a chalazion with a stye. A stye is very painful. It is a red lump located on your eyelid’s edge due to an infected eyelash root. It usually swells, sometimes affecting the entire eyelid. On the other hand, a chalazion is a painless bump. It can develop within the upper or lower eyelid, although the upper is more frequent. It is a bump that develops farther back on the eyelid than a stye.
The main differences are that a chalazion tends to be painless, whereas styes are tender, redder, and display more signs of inflammation overall.
A chalazion is an inflammatory lesion and not an infection!
Nonsurgical treatment options include warm compresses over the eye (1-2 minutes) and gentle eyelid massages. They can help to dilate the blocked gland opening, making it easier for the trapped material to be massaged out.
Whatever you do, do not try to squeeze the eye cyst. You should apply gentle-steady pressure.
Apart from the massages, it’s better to refrain from touching the area as much as possible! After all, a small chalazion may often go away on its own within two to eight weeks. If the symptoms persist, you should seek medical advice to get a proper diagnosis or treatment. Your doctor may prescribe you a steroid ointment to help the inflammation subside.
Also, if the problem persists or is large enough to cause blurry vision, astigmatism, watery eyes, or eye irritation, your doctor may recommend surgical removal.
Eye cyst removal is a surgery to clean out the blocked Meibomian duct causing the chalazion.
Your doctor may suggest a less invasive alternative treatment, such as injecting a corticosteroid into the eyelid. Steroid injections help to reduce inflammation and swelling. However, while considered safe and effective, you may have permanent lightening of the skin where the shot was given.
If undergoing general anesthesia, you should avoid eating or eating after midnight the night before the surgery. In the case of local anaesthesia plus sedation, clear liquids may be allowed up to two hours before the procedure.
Patients should always take their usual medications on the day of surgery. However, there are some exceptions, such as blood thinners and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which may increase the risk of bleeding.
On the day of the procedure, avoid putting on makeup and wear contact lenses.
Chalazion removal is performed by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) or oculoplastic surgeon. It may be performed in adults or children.
The surgery is a quick outpatient procedure that takes between 20 and 45 minutes to perform. So, you’ll be able to go home the same day. It is carried out under local anaesthesia with mild sedation if needed. General anesthesia can also be used, though it is more common for young children. Whichever the anaesthesia technique, the surgical area will be numbed so that you do not feel any pain or discomfort.
When using local anaesthesia, first, the surgeon will inject the numbing medication into your eyelid. You may feel a little stinging sensation or some discomfort during the injection.
After the anaesthesia has taken effect, your eye surgeon will use a clamp device to keep your eye wide open. The clamp is used to evert the eyelid, meaning turn it inside out. He will make a small incision on your outer eyelid (for a larger chalazion) or inner eyelid (for the small ones), leaving no visible scarring afterward. Then, he will remove the oily contents of the chalazion using a surgical tool called a curette.
Typically, the incision is left to heal on its own. However, if a large chalazion is removed, your doctor may close the incision with dissolvable stitches.
Also, if you get chalazion frequently, it is recommended to do a biopsy on its contents to investigate potential underlying causes. Finally, an antibiotic ointment is instilled into your eye, and an eye patch is set in place.
After eye cyst removal, it is common to have blurred vision as a thick antibiotic ointment is applied to prevent infections and stop the surface of your eyes from drying out. This is perfectly normal, and your blurred vision will gradually settle. However, you must arrange for somebody to drive you home.
You may also have an eye pad to protect your eye, which you must wear for up to 24 hours after the surgery. Don’t be alarmed if you experience soring, swelling, or bruising around your eye.
Also, minimal oozing of red fluid from the surgical site is normal for a few days. Your doctor will prescribe you an antibiotic ointment or eye drops to use three times a day for five days to prevent infection.
Another recommendation is to avoid getting water in your eyes for a week or so.
Recovery from surgery may take around a week. Although, it may be slightly shorter or longer depending on the size and location of the chalazion.
The incision should heal between 7 to 10 days. But it’s a good idea to avoid heavy exercise or situations that could potentially injure your eye for a minimum of two weeks.
You should avoid wearing contact lenses for about a week and eye makeup for nearly a month after surgery.
Eyelid cyst removal surgery may damage the glands responsible for maintaining your tear film, aka the Meibomian glands. This is one reason why your eye doctor may wait to see if the chalazion goes away on its own before taking a surgical approach.
The surgery is a relatively quick and safe procedure, though. Just make sure to follow your eye doctor’s aftercare instructions to avoid any complications.
Please notice that there is also the risk of infection or recurrent chalazion.
Chalazion surgery cost depends on the technique performed. Please, fill in the contact form. If you have any medical reports or examination results from other centers, we would appreciate it if you could send these tests to us by email.
You can be sure that this information will always be treated with maximum confidentiality, and we will offer you the solution that best suits your needs.
If the doctor does not speak your language, we will offer an interpreter free of charge.
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Chalazion – diagnosis and therapy. Görsch I, Loth C, Haritoglou C.MMW Fortschr Med. 2016 Jun
When Is a Chalazion Not a Chalazion? Wagner RS.J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2016 Jul
The effects of chalazion surgery on intraocular pressure and corneal topography. Ilhan C, Ozgul Yilmazoglu M, Yilmazbas P.Int Ophthalmol. 2019 May
Barraquer Eye Hospital
Carrer de Muntaner, 314, 08021 Barcelona (Spain)
Nearest Metro Stations:: Muntaner/ Gràcia
