How do you know if a chalazion is healing?

How do you know if a chalazion is healing?

Chalazions are not only uncomfortable, but can lead to other issues if it doesn’t heal. The last thing you want is your vision to be affected, so what do you need to be on the lookout for? When should you consider seeing an eye care professional?

In this blog, we are going to answer the question ‘How do you know if a chalazion is healing?’

With approximately 5 million people never having an eye test, and with those within that figure who haven’t had a follow-up eye test in 3 years or more, its safe to say most people aren’t aware that their vision may need checking or correcting.

Coincidentally, over 40% of people in the Northwest of England have struggled to attend a dentist appointment, whether this be through failure to be referred by the NHS, or for other reasons.

The team here at Eye & Dental Clinic are leading by example in both minor eye care and cosmetic dentistry, along with emergency dental treatment, provided by real people whose aim and passion is to provide remarkable clinical care so you can live comfortably.

What is a Chalazion?

A chalazion is a bump that begins to form on the inside of the eyelid as a result of an oil gland in your eye becoming blocked. A chalazion looks fairly similar to a stye, though there are differences. A chalazion occurs further back towards the eyelid.

If left untreated, a chalazion will end up becoming larger with swelling, which could put pressure on your eyeball and affect your vision. Despite this, a chalazion is not normally painful.

Is a stye the same as a chalazion?

Although they look very similar, a stye is not the same as a chalazion. Styes occur closer to the eyelid, at the base of the eyelash, are generally itchy, and make your eyes water, along with symptoms that may include light sensitivity and a visible spot where you can see pus. Styes are also usually painful.

How can I treat a chalazion?

Here are ways to treat your stye or chalazion:

Treatments for a chalazion at home

• Use a warm compress. The pores on your skin become looser when they are around heat or made warm, this is essentially your body’s way of breathing out any excess heat. This principle can apply to chalazion’s too.
• Simply soak a washcloth in hot water, and hold it to your eyelid for a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat this process a minimum of 3 times a day. The warmth should help the oil gland to drain.
• Over-the-counter eyedrops. You can buy eyedrops that can help to treat your chalazion before needing to see a doctor. This should be the next option if the warm compress does not work. If this method doesn’t work, you may have to see an eye care professional.

Professional chalazion treatments

• Depending on the severity of your infection, antibiotics may be prescribed to you to ensure the infection is eradicated. A steroid shot may also be an option.
• Surgery (drainage). If the chalazion does not change or begins to affect your vision, you may need to drain it to prevent further discomfort. This is a fairly simple procedure that can be done with local anaesthesia.

What should I avoid if I have a chalazion?

Avoid wearing eye makeup or wearing contact lenses, and of course, do not tamper with the chalazion or try to pop it like a pimple. Its also advisable to use your own towel for the face, sharing a towel with someone with a chalazion could lead to you picking up the germs from their chalazion, especially if you both use the towel to clean your face.

How do you know if a chalazion is healing?

You can tell if a chalazion is healing as the swelling will begin to reduce, and any discomfort you may have felt may begin to ease as well. It varies on a case-by-case basis; a chalazion will start to reduce in size after 2-3 days of treatment.

When first getting a chalazion, it will take a few days to grow to its fullest size. Treating it as soon as you become aware of it is the best way to avoid any long-term discomfort.

How can I speed up the healing of a chalazion?

Avoid wearing eye makeup or wearing contact lenses, and of course, do not tamper with the chalazion or try to pop it like a pimple. Use your own towel for the face; sharing a towel with someone with a chalazion could lead to you picking up the germs from them, especially if you both use the towel to clean your face.

Where can I go to get my chalazion treated?

There are three options you can take when it comes to getting your chalazion treated,

1. Home treatment, through the methods we described before. Please note that without a proper diagnosis from a professional, you may end up worse as a result. Sometimes a chalazion is a result of other underlying health conditions, so getting a second opinion is vital.
2. NHS referral, unfortunately, due to the backlog of doctors’ appointments as a result of COVID, people are waiting longer than usual for an appointment unless its an absolute emergency.
3. The overworked and understaffed healthcare professionals of the NHS can not guarantee a quick appointment as they could before. If your chalazion isn’t serious, this option is still totally viable.
4. See a private eye-care clinic, this method can guarantee you get seen by a medical professional sooner rather than later (subject to other appointments they have booked) and get the treatment you need before it gets worse.

Is there an eye clinic near me?

For those in the Northwest and beyond, Eye & Dental Clinic are here to provide the help you need, whether it be treatment for chalazions, aesthetic dental work, or emergency appointments in the eye and dental department.

In reference to a chalazion, we have the specialist equipment, staff, and expertise required to treat yours as soon as possible, and in cases where you may need to be referred to someone else, we can also get that sorted for you.

Book an appointment today, or contact us if you have any queries you need answered before making a booking.

Eye & Dental Clinic – Dental services

For those considering a dental checkup with us, here’s what you can expect.

• Professional examination of your mouth, teeth and gums.
• Enquiries about you, your general health and any specific dental problems you may have experienced recently.
• Enquiries about your lifestyle and advice on diet, alcohol and smoking.
• Advice on good cleaning practices and ways to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy.
• Diagnosis of any problems and explaining a treatment plan.
• A clear explanation of any treatment you may require, the costs involved and any risk it may incur.
• A mouth cancer screening, to check for early signs or pre-cancerous changes in the mouth and throat.
• Advice on your next course of action and booking a return appointment.

For any possible treatments you may need, here is our price list for dental treatments.

Book an appointment today

In this blog, we hope to have provided an answer to the question ‘How do you know if a chalazion is healing?’ whilst also giving you supplementary guidance, in addition to the stellar, affordable and professional services we offer for your teeth and eyes.

To gain some insight into our amazing team who do their absolute best for you, follow this link. Want to read more? Click here to check out our blog page. You can also contact us here.

Address:

110 Ainsworth Rd, Bury, BL8 2RS, Lancashire.

Telephone:

01615 245 828

Email:

Bury@eyeanddentalclinic.com

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