A chalazion is a lump in the eyelid that is formed when a sweat gland within the skin ruptures and becomes inflamed. It is sometimes confused with a sty, which is usually more painful and involves the hair follicles.
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A chalazion forms when the oil produced by the sweat gland in the eyelid becomes too thick to flow out of the gland. The gland continues to produce more oil, which has nowhere to go, and as a result swells and forms a lump in the eyelid. This eventually leads to the gland bursting and the oil being released into the eyelid, causing inflammation.
If you suspect a chalazion, or if your eyelid remains red or swollen , you should call Easton Eye Consultants at (508) 238-2388 to arrange a comprehensive eye examination. You should contact Dr. Negahban immediately if you also have a fever, headache, eye pain, or if both lids on one eye or a single lid on both eyes are swollen or red.
Dr. Negahban can examine your eye and diagnose a chalazion, and if the swelling has lasted a few weeks, he may recommend a brief in office procedure to remove it. While warm towels placed over the eye several times a day for 10 – 15 minutes may prove helpful to reduce the swelling, a steroidal injection or antibiotic eye drops may be necessary to decrease the inflammation and swelling.
If the chalazion needs to be surgically removed, the procedure can be done without hospitalization under simple, local anesthesia. A very tiny incision is made inside the eyelid through which the chalazion is removed. There may be temporary, mild discomfort following the procedure, but other than keeping water out of the eye for a couple of days, normal activities can be resumed almost immediately, and you may return to work or school the next day.
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