Are chalazion something to worry about?

Are chalazion something to worry about?

It can be alarming to discover a lump or swelling on your eyelid, and it can cause worry and stress if you don’t know what it is or if it’s serious. We’re here to put your mind at ease and to tell you everything you need to know about what to do if you find a lump or swelling on your eyelid. At the Eye & Dental Clinic, we are experts in eye care, and you can find us in Bury if you need more reassurance or would like to make an appointment with an eye care specialist.

What is a lump or swelling on the eye?

If you find a lump or swelling on your bottom or upper eyelid, it’s likely to be a chalazion or a stye. A chalazion can sometimes be mistaken for a stye, as it is a small, painless lump or swelling that forms within the eyelid.

The difference is that a stye appears due to a bacterial infection, and they are often quite sore. The main cause of a chalazion is inflammation due to a blocked oil gland in the eyelid. These glands produce an oily substance that helps lubricate the eye by preventing the evaporation of tears. More often than not, a chalazion won’t be painful, but it can be a little irritating.

Getting a chalazion diagnosed

In most cases, you won’t need to see a doctor or eye care specialist to diagnose a chalazion. The at-home treatment for both types of lump or swelling on the eyelid is the same, so you don’t necessarily need to know for sure if you have a chalazion or a stye.

However, if you’re concerned about a chalazion, if it doesn’t go away within a month or if your symptoms are getting worse, we advise booking an appointment with us to get it looked at. Your eye care specialist will ask you questions about your general health, eye health history and will do a thorough examination of your eye to determine what the problem is.

Your eye care professional will also provide you with advice on how you can treat a chalazion at home or offer further medical assistance if required.

Is a chalazion something to worry about?

Thankfully, a chalazion is usually nothing to worry about. Chalazia can be small and not very noticeable, or they can grow larger over time, but then they will begin to get better on their own or with a little TLC. While they are usually not painful, a larger chalazion can cause blurred or blocked vision if it presses against the eye.

Don’t be alarmed if your chalazion is a little painful, particularly at the start, as this is normal. It shouldn’t be too painful, and it will subside as time goes on. Most of the time, a chalazion or other lump isn’t serious, and it’s often a pain-free lump that’s more annoying than anything else. However, if you are concerned, you should always get it checked out to be on the safe side or see a doctor or eye care specialist if you are experiencing a chalazion that keeps returning.

At-home treatment for a chalazion

There are a few things you can do at home to help your chalazion get better.

• Follow good hygiene practices like washing your hands regularly and not touching your eyes, as this can make the problem worse.
• Avoid wearing makeup, particularly eye makeup and do not use anyone else’s makeup or allow them to use yours.
• Use a warm compress as the heat will loosen and open up your skin to clear it out. You can do this for around 10-15 minutes a few times a day.
• Over-the-counter eye drops are available to buy, or your eye care professional may provide you with some.
• Get enough sleep.
• Consult a professional for help if your chalazion gets worse or isn’t healing.

By doing these simple things, your chalazion should go down and go away without needing medical assistance. However, if yours doesn’t always seek medical advice.

How long does it take for a chalazion to go away?

You should expect it to last around a month, but some can take a little longer to heal. A hardened chalazion will eventually go away, but it can take longer, and this is usually nothing to worry about. Be patient, and as long as you are seeing some improvement in your symptoms, then the chalazion will go away in time.

In some cases, where the chalazion is quite large, it can take several months to completely go away, but you should see some improvement within that time. If you’re ever concerned about a chalazion or if you’re struggling to get rid of it, see an eye care professional or doctor for advice and further treatment.

There are a few ways to tell if your chalazion is healing. Your eyelid will become less swollen and red, any discomfort will subside, and your blurred vision will decrease. However, in some cases, if your chalazion is left without professional treatment and carrying out simple home treatments isn’t enough, it can cause more serious conditions.

Ways to avoid getting a chalazion

Some individuals are more prone to getting a chalazion than others, and are often unavoidable, and it’s one of the most common causes of eye lumps or swelling on the eyelid. Anyone can get a chalazion, even children, but adults aged between 30 and 50 are most at risk of a chalazion.

Those who carry out poor eye care, such as not washing their hands before touching their eye to remove contact lenses, for example, or regularly re-using towels, sharing towels and other things such as makeup brushes and eye make-up, are most at risk of developing a chalazion.

Even hormone imbalances can also cause a chalazion or certain skin conditions. People who regularly develop a chalazion that keeps returning time and time again should discuss this with an eye care professional, as there could be a medical issue that needs addressing to help prevent the chalazion from returning. The ultimate reason for a chalazion is due to a blocked oil gland in the eyelid.

Things you can do to help prevent a chalazion from returning

If you’ve experienced a chalazion before, you’ll know that they aren’t particularly fun to have. They can cause blurred vision, irritation, redness, and they aren’t pleasing to look at. Here are some things you can do to try to prevent it from returning in the future:

• Get plenty of sleep and rest so your eyes don’t become over-tired.
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
• Only use products on your eyes and face that are suitable for sensitive skin and for use on the eyes to avoid irritation.
• Don’t share eye makeup or towels.
• Wash your hands before touching your eye to remove or put in contact lenses.
• See an eye care specialist if a chalazion returns.

Visit us at the Eye & Dental Clinic

If you’re on the lookout for somewhere to book an appointment for eye care or dental needs, and if you would like a professional to have a look at swelling or a lump on your eyelid, choose the Eye & Dental Clinic in Bury. We recommend you pay us a visit to check that your chalazion is healing as it should. Or, if you have any other eye care or dental needs, we’re here to help you with that, too.

Our experienced eye care professionals will ask you questions about your medical and eye history, do a thorough examination, offer advice on how to help the chalazion heal and provide additional treatment if necessary.

Learn more about us

Not only do we have flexible and fast appointments for eye care, but we also offer emergency dental appointments and non-emergency dental appointments. See our deposits and missed appointments policy to learn more about how our practice appointments run, and to learn more about us, see our practice policies and procedures.

To summarise, a chalazion usually isn’t something you need to worry about, as they are very common and go away with just simple at-home care. However, if you are worried about it, if your chalazion continues to return or if it doesn’t get better within a month, always seek medical advice.

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