Chalazion Surgery

This surgery is carried out in the operating room of Iran-Tehran Noor Eye Hospital, under local anesthesia. First the eyelid is anesthetized by eye drops and anesthetics, so that the patient does not feel pain. Then chalazion is drained off by a small cut at the back of the eyelid.

This cut usually does not need any stitches and it heals itself overtime. Also since the cut is on the inside of the eyelid, therefore it can not be seen. After surgery, the dressing of the eye should remain on the eye for several hours.

Sometimes, especially in those who have frequent problems, the removed chalazion is sent for further examination to the laboratory of Noor Eye Hospital for pathology.

Note: In young children, due to the impossibility of local anesthetic, chalazion surgery is carried out under general anesthesia, in an operating room.

َAfter removing the eye dressing, you may find some blood and discharge on the eye dressing or inside the eye, which is normal and should not make you worried. The discharge usually resolves within one to two days.

Also it is normal that the eyelid looks bruised and swollen after the surgery. Bruising usually resolves within 10 days to two weeks.

The ophthalmologist may advise you to use antibiotic or steroid eye drops and ointments for a few days. The use of these medications reduces inflammation and speeds up surgical wound healing.

If you feel pain in the eyelid, you can use common pain medications such as acetaminophen to control pain.

Preventive care

Chalazion prevention tips are as following:

1. Regular eyelid cleaning

2. Observing eye health

3. Avoid touching your eyes with dirty hands

- What is Chalazion?

- Can chalazion be treated without referring to an ophthalmologist?

- When is chalazion removal surgery needed?

- What are the risk factors for the development of a chalazion?

- How is chalazion removal surgery performed? (Briefly)

- Is chalazion removal drainage procedure the same in children and adults?

- I underwent chalazion removal surgery, but my eyelids are bruised and swollen. What should I do?

- I am working in industrial environments. Am I prone to chalazion?

- What is Chalazion?

 Chalazion is a small lump along the edge of the eyelid under the skin caused by blocking one of the eyelid oil glands and accumulation of oil substances inside the eyelid oil glands.

- Can chalazion be treated without referring to an ophthalmologist?

In some cases, Warm compresses and gentle massage over the affected area may promote drainage of the blocked gland.

- When is chalazion removal surgery needed?

If individual measures are not effective for chalazion drainage, the patient should be referred to an ophthalmologist for removal surgery.

- What are the risk factors for the development of a chalazion?

A variety of factors are important to develop a chalazion, the most common are having dirty eyelids, touching your eyes with unclean hands and not cleaning the eyes on a regular basis. Certainly, maintaining routine eyelid hygiene measures can easily prevent the disease.

- How is chalazion removal surgery performed? (Briefly)

This surgery is very simple and can be done easily at an eye clinic or ophthalmologist's office. In brief, the steps are as following:

1. The patient is referred to an ophthalmologist.

2. The ophthalmologist checks the condition of the chalazion.

3. The eyelid is anesthetized by eye drops and anesthetics, so that the patient does not feel pain.

4. A small cut is made at the back of the eyelid to drain chalazion.

5. The cut usually does not need any stitches. After surgery, the dressing of the eye should remain on the eye for several hours.

- Is chalazion removal drainage procedure the same in children and adults?

No; in children, due to the impossibility of local anesthetic, this surgery is performed under general anesthesia, in the operating room.

- I underwent chalazion removal surgery, but my eyelids are bruised and swollen. What should I do?

Do not worry, this is normal and usually resolves within 10 days to two weeks.

- I am working in industrial environments. Am I prone to chalazion?

Generally, exposure to air pollutants and not cleaning the eyes on a regular basis are some of the known risk factors for developing Chalazion. We recommend that you use protective equipment such as full-coverage safety glasses in such environments, and wash your eyes, eyelashes and eyelids with a water solution and soap or shampoo after leaving the place. Remember that any individual is prone to a Chalazion formation. It is non-specific to your age, gender or the kind of your job, so make sure to maintain routine eye hygiene measures.