Chalazia
What is Chalazia?
Chalazion is a small cyst or lamb that develops on your eyelid. It’s usually a result of a blockage in the Glands of your eyelid that produce oil. This causes your eyelid to redden and swell. Eventually a visible lump can develop.
Chalazions typically aren’t painful and often go away on their own within two to eight weeks. But if you have had one for several months or it’s starting to interfere with your vision your Healthcare provider may recommend surgical removal.
incision and curetage chalazia
How is it done?
surgery may take place in a hospital but some clinics might perform it directly in the office. Before the surgery you will be given an extension so you won’t feel anything during the procedure.
Once the anesthesia has taken affect the surgeon performs these steps
- uses a clamp to keep your eyes open
- make a small incision on your outer eyelid (for a larger Chalazion) or inner eyelid (for a smaller one)
- Scrapes out the contents of the Chalazion
- 4.Closes the incision with dissolve stitches
If you get your Chalazion frequently, they may follow up by doing a biopsy on the content of the chalazion to check for potential underlying causes. This actual procedure takes about 10 minutes.
What will happen during the procedure?
Chalazion surgery takes about 20 to 45 minutes to perform. Here’s how a procedure using local anesthesia proceeds:
- Numbing the area: The surgery will start with Dr. Veerle injecting a numbing medication into your eyelid around the area of the chalazion. You may feel a stinging sensation and some discomfort during the injection.
- Positioning and incision: Next, Dr. Veerle Van Tricht will use a clamp to hold your eyelid open during the procedure. She will then make a small incision in either in the front or back of the eyelid depending on the size of the chalazion. If a large chalazion is present, the incision is generally made on the front of the eyelid.
- Removal: A curette will then be used to remove the contents of the chalazion. A cotton swab will be placed on the wound site to stop any bleeding. The clamp will then be removed, and the doctor will apply pressure to the wound site with his gloved finger pads.
Typically, the incision site is usually left to heal on its own. But if a large chalazion is removed, the surgeon may close the incision site with dissolvable stitches.
The Risks of Chalazion Treatment are Minimal
Dr. V has been performing these procedures for 25 years without any serious complications.
Floaters are common straight after the procedure but usually disappear spontaneously over time.
There is a small risk of bleeding which Dr. V will control by pressing the lens on the eye.
Postoperative inflammation and pressure spikes can occur but Dr. V will give you drops or a prescription to use after the treatment to significantly lower that risk.
Dr. V will call you personally after a week to make sure you have recuperated well. You can also go back to your optometrist to update your spectacles at that stage.
chalazion treatment
What should I expect after the procedure?
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You may experience some minor and temporary side effects from chalazion surgery, including:
- Eyelid discomfort, bruising, and swelling
- Slightly blurry vision
- Minimal oozing of red fluid from the surgical site
As you recover at home, Dr. Veerle may advise:
- Using cold compresses on your eye to reduce swelling
- Taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) for any eyelid discomfort
- Applying an antibiotic eye ointment or drops to help prevent infection
- Avoiding contact lenses, touching your eyes, and wearing eye makeup to help prevent infection
- Avoiding heavy lifting, bending, and strenuous activity to help reduce bruising
- Wearing an eye patch that you can remove on your own the morning after surgery
Further Information
Always consult your health care provider before deciding to know which one applies to your situation.
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