Chalazion Treatment & Self-Care

What Is A Chalazion?

A chalazion is a benign bump inside the eyelid. These cyst-like nodules form around the meibomian oil glands and lead to red swollen eyelids. Unlike a stye, it’s farther back on the eyelid, and is generally painless, though it may be unsightly. Chalazion treatment can be done at home so most of the time, there is no need to see an eye doctor.

What Causes Chalazion?

A chalazion forms when one of the small oil glands in the eyelid becomes blocked. These glands (meibomian glands) play a role in keeping the eyes lubricated. When a gland is obstructed, it traps oil and starts to swell. Over time, the fluid drains, irritating the surrounding eyelid skin. This irritation can result in a firm lump filled with oil and fluid on the eyelid.

Monitoring Chalazion

While anyone can get a chalazion, they tend to be more common in 30-50 year-olds and people with rosacea and blepharitis.

While many chalazia drain on their own, it’s important to monitor them and see your eye care provider. They can swell and even cause vision problems including temporary astigmatism or blurry vision.

Chalazion Self-Care and When To See A Doctor

Most Chalazions drain by themselves, so unless they start to pain you, you probably don’t need to seek treatment. However, you can get blurry vision and inflammation from them. If you wear contacts, it could be very painful to correct your vision. You may need to see an eye doctor to clear a chalazion faster.

Treatments for a chalazion include:

• Warm compresses
• Antibiotics
• Steroid shots
• Surgery

Schedule An Appointment With Specialty Eye Institute

If you’re experiencing blurry vision or inflammation, schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors. We’ll make sure that you get the treatment that you need for relief from a chalazion.