What causes a chalazion to flare up?

What causes a chalazion to flare up?

Some people who have had a chalazion in the past are prone to flare-ups in the future, but this isn’t true of everyone. Sometimes they are unavoidable and are caused through no fault of your own, but here you will learn a little more about what can cause a chalazion to flare up and how to try to avoid getting one again in the future.

At the Eye & Dental Clinic, we are eye care professionals, and we’re always here if you need to book an appointment to get a lump on your eye checked out. Whilst you will find lots of information in this post, if you’re unsure about something, make sure you contact us to book an appointment.

How is a chalazion diagnosed?

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, however, 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.

The only way to tell the difference between the two for sure is to get the lump checked out by an eye care professional. However, the treatment for both conditions is the same, so there are a few things you can do at home to help either one.

Chalazia can be small and not very noticeable, or they can grow larger over time. While they are usually not painful, a larger chalazion can cause blurred or blocked vision if it presses against the eye. Whilst medical care is not always necessary, it’s important to seek an eye care professional if you are concerned about a chalazion. Your eye care professional will thoroughly examine your eye and ask you some medical history questions to determine the issue.

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.

Can a chalazion recur?

Yes, but they don’t always. Some individuals are more prone to getting a chalazion than others, so a recurring chalazion can be considered a flare-up in the condition. Getting a chalazion is one of the most common causes of eye lumps or swelling on the eyelid, so there’s no need to be alarmed, even if it does come back from time to time.

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.

Most of the time, the cause of a chalazion is unknown, and some people are more prone to getting them than others. Hormone imbalances can also cause a chalazion or even 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.

What could cause a recurring chalazion?

Here are a few reasons why an oil gland in your eyelid is becoming blocked and causing a chalazion:

• Poor hygiene.
• Bad nutrition.
• Lack of sleep.
• Decreased blinking.
• Using products that irritate the eye.

Treatment for a chalazion

Most of the time, a chalazion can be treated at home, and no medical intervention is needed. Here are some things you can do to help speed up the healing process:

• 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.
• Consult a professional for help if your chalazion gets worse or isn’t healing.

What to expect when you have a chalazion

Whether this is the first time you’ve had a chalazion or you’re experiencing a flare-up, you should expect it to be red, swollen and 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.

Your chalazion shouldn’t be sore; however, in some cases, it can be a little sore to begin with, but they are usually more irritating than sore. Expect to experience some blurry vision as the lump presses against your eye, but this should get better as the chalazion starts to go down.

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.

How to get a chalazion checked out

Usually, you don’t need to get a chalazion checked out, but if you’re concerned about a lump or swelling on your eyelid, if you’re experiencing pain, and it hasn’t healed within a month, it’s always best to get it checked out just in case. Your eye care professional can recommend treatment to help your chalazion heal.

The Eye & Dental Clinic

The Eye & Dental Clinic is a friendly and professional clinic that welcomes the people of Bury and the surrounding communities to the surgery, and we would be happy to accept you as a patient too.  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.

Additional services

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.

What causes a chalazion to flare up?

Sometimes a chalazion flare-up is unavoidable and caused by a blocked oil gland in the eyelid. However, there are a few things that could cause a flare-up, such as practising poor eye care, poor hygiene, decreased blinking or using products that irritate and ultimately block oil glands.

To try to avoid this in the future, practice good eye care and hygiene, eat a healthy and balanced diet, get plenty of rest and sleep, make sure you aren’t overworked or have tired and irritated eyes and use gentle products that are safe for the eyes and gentle on the skin around the eyes.

For more information on how to help a chalazion heal, how to avoid a chalazion and what could be causing your recurring chalazion, make sure you book an appointment with the Eye & Dental Clinic in Bury, and we will be happy to assist you.

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