A chalazion (plural: chalazia) is a small lump that develops on or within the eyelid. It usually does not present any pain and does not last longer than a few weeks.
Meibomian glands are in charge of the production of oil that lubricate the eye’s surface. Chalazia can form when meibomian glands at the edge of an eyelid develop a blockage. This can be due to an inflammation of the eyelid caused by infection, or a collection of debris from dirt, oil and dead skin, or eye makeup.
Most people confuse a chalazion with a stye since they appear similar to most. A stye – like a chalazion, is also a small lump that can develop in the eye area. Though the two terms are often used interchangeably, they actually are different conditions and lesions altogether.
A chalazion is the result of a blocked oil gland, thus resulting in a lump where the produced oil has nowhere to go, thus resulting in swelling. A stye, however, is an oil gland or hair follicle that has come under infection, commonly at the edge of the eyelid. It is possible, however, for a chalazion to develop into a stye when it gets infected.
Styes come in 2 forms:
This refers to styes that develop at the root of the eyelash situated at the edge of the eyelid. The stye is formed when infection happens at the follicle of the eyelash
This type of styes form inside the eyelid. Usually results from an oil gland infection.
The easiest way to tell a chalazion and a stye apart is that a chalazion does not usually come accompanied with pain. Styes, however, are painful. Styes may also cause the eye to feel ‘scratchy’ or sore.
Stye symptoms listed:
A patient may experience some, or all of the above symptoms as the stye develops. The growth phase of the stye usually lasts for approximately 3 days, before the body starts to drain out the collected pus, leading to a gradual alleviation of experienced symptoms. The stye is usually resolved in a week after.
In the initial stages, a chalazion can be observed as a small, inflamed area of the eyelid. Redness on the inflamed may be experienced. This inflamed area may grow slowly over time and develop into a painless lump.
It is more common chalazion to affect the upper eyelid, but may also grow on the lower eyelid.
Chalazia are generally painless, but they can irritate the affected eye, leading to increased tear production and excessive watering. This irritation may cause mild discomfort or a foreign body sensation, though chalazia typically do not result in significant pain or redness unless they become infected or inflamed.
If a chalazion persists for more than a month, it is advisable to seek medical attention from a healthcare professional. In Singapore, ophthalmologists and eye specialists can provide the necessary diagnosis and treatment, while also checking for underlying conditions or complications.
A thorough assessment will include a detailed questioning about the chalazion’s development and symptoms and close examination of the affected eyelid to rule out other potential causes.
Treatment options are as follows:
It is important to treat chalazion early as chronic chalazion are more difficult to treat and may lead to eyelid scarring.
