Your eyelids contain something called the meibomian gland, which produces one of the substances that make up tears.
A chalazion occurs when the gland becomes blocked and inflamed. Usually, a chalazion will look like a red lump on your eyelid. The lump itself is not painful but it can irritate the eye and when far advanced may affect your vision.
In most cases, you will be advised to allow a chalazion to recede on its own and sometimes given medication to prevent one from coming back. However, if they cause continued discomfort and vision loss without showing signs of going away, surgery may be recommended. You may also prefer to have surgery for aesthetic reasons.
The procedure to remove a chalazion involves draining its contents via a small incision within the eyelid. This is carried out under local anesthetic and does not take long.
Following surgery, your eye should heal in about seven to ten days, although this may vary depending on the size of your chalazion and where it was placed in the eye. You may experience some discomfort, bruising or swelling in your eyelid, blurry vision, or the release of minimal red fluid from the surgical area. You can take mild pain relief such as paracetamol to ease this. You can expect to go back to work a few days after you have had your surgery.
Apply a moist compress, such as cotton balls, to your eyes three times a day for ten minutes each time.
During your recovery, it’s best not to wear contact lenses. If you regularly wear contacts, our experts will be able to advise when you can use them again.
You’ll be given an aftercare regime to follow, including any medication. Please follow it closely to ensure the best recovery. If you’re unsure about anything, we’re help you.
As you recover from your chalazion surgery, it’s best to not wear any eye make-up. This will stop any irritation or infection and allow your eye to heal properly.
