Chalazion Treatment

Both chalazia and styes are eyelid bumps caused by blocked oil glands, but they have some key differences:

• Infection:
  A stye (hordeolum) is an infected oil gland, whereas a chalazion is a non-infected blockage. This is the main distinction.
• Pain:
  Styes are typically painful, while chalazia are usually painless or cause mild discomfort.
• Location:
  Styes tend to form on the edge of the eyelid, near the base of an eyelash. Chalazia develop deeper within the eyelid, further back from the edge.
• Onset and Duration:
  Styes appear suddenly and typically resolve within a week or two. Chalazia develop more slowly and can last for weeks or even months.

Firstly, you could wait a bit and see what happens, as some chalazia go away on their own within a few weeks or months.

Then there are some home remedies you can try, although it’s important to be very careful and gentle with the delicate eye area:

• Warm compresses:
  Apply a warm compress to your eyelid for 10-15 minutes, several times a day. This can help melt the blocked oil and encourage drainage.
• Gentle massage:
  After applying a warm compress, gently massage your eyelid in the direction of the lashes. This can help express the blocked oil.
• Lid scrubs:
  You can use a special eyelid scrub to help remove debris and keep the glands from clogging again.

For large, well-established or stubborn chalazion, professional treatment is likely to yield the fastest and surest results.

No, antibiotics typically won’t get rid of a chalazion by themselves, as chalazia are not infections. They are caused by blocked oil glands, not bacteria that antibiotics target.

Antibiotic ointments may be helpful in reducing inflammation and preventing infection, but are unlikely to help get rid of the chalazion itself.

Cosmedics do not offer antibiotic treatment for chalazion. This would need to be assessed and prescribed by your GP.

No, this is not recommended. Chalazion is not a spot, it is a blocked duct. You should not be tempted to squeeze it as the eye area is very delicate.

No, there’s no discomfort. Treatment is quick and painless with the use of local anaesthetic. This is safe as our surgeon is specialised in treating the eye area.

There are no bandages required and minimal dressing if any.

Minor surgery may involve tiny stitches. These would be removed 5-7 days later.

There is no scarring with chalazion injections. Larger chalazion may require surgery and that does involve a risk of scarring. However, we use techniques to minimise this with tiny incisions and wound closure for rapid healing.

You’ll be given full advice on the day, but it is fair to expect that you’ll be advised to avoid use of makeup around the eye area initially. This is likely to be a couple of days if you’ve had injections and 1-2 weeks after minor surgical removal. It is important to minimise the risk of infection or irritation while any wounds are healing.

If you’ve had injections, then we’d recommend wearing spectacles/glasses for the first couple of days, just to avoid any pulling on the eyelid which would be required for contact lens insertion and removal.

If you have had minor surgery, then it is likely to be a few more days, probably until stitches are removed. However, it does depend on the nature of your chalazion. This is something that you’d discuss fully in consultation prior to treatment.

Chalazions can potentially recur even after successful treatment, although it is more likely to return if you’ve just had one injection and less likely if you’ve had a course of injections or minor surgery.

We do recommend maintaining good eyelid hygiene to minimise the risk of recurrence. If you suffer from any underlying conditions, such as blepharitis or dry eye, then it’s best to keep on top of the symptoms.