Chalazion Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Chalazion is an eye disorder characterized by a lump on the eyelid. This disease occurs due to blockage of the Meibomian glands. Meibomian glands are oil glands found in the eyelids, which function to keep the eyeball moist.
Symptom
A chalazion is characterized by a lump on the eyelid (upper or lower). This lump is similar to hordeolum (style). The difference is that in a chalazion, this lump is not accompanied by redness, swelling or pain.
Reason
A chalazion occurs due to blockage of the Meibomian glands in the upper or lower eyelids. These blockages generally occur due to a viral infection or previous inflammation.
A chalazion is more often found in people with seborrheic dermatitis, chronic blepharitis (chronic inflammation of the eyelids), or people who have conjunctivitis (infection of the lining of the eye).
Diagnosis
Determining the diagnosis of chalazion is not difficult. Generally, it is enough for a doctor to do an eye examination to confirm the existence of this disease.
Treatment
For initial treatment, people with chalazion are instructed to apply warm compresses to their eyelids 3–4 times a day, for 15 minutes each time. This aims to open blockages in the Meibomian glands. However, if it does not improve, an incision (slash) is generally needed in the blocked Meibomian gland.
Prevention
A chalazion can not always be prevented. However, maintaining eye hygiene can reduce the risk of developing chalazion. For this reason, what you can do is always wash your hands before touching your eyes, and if you use glasses or contact lenses, make sure they are clean before putting them on your eyes.