CHALAZION, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Chalazion is a cyst in the eyelid due to a blocked oil gland. They are typically in the middle of the eyelid, red, and not painful. They tend to come on gradually over a few weeks.

A chalazion may occur following a stye or from hardened oils blocking the gland.The blocked gland is usually the meibomian gland but can also be the gland of Zeis.A stye and cellulitis may appear similar. A stye, however, is usually more sudden in onset, painful, and occurs at the edge of the eyelid. Cellulitis is also typically painful.

Treatment is initiated with warm compresses.If this is not effective injecting steroids into the lesion may be tried. If large, incision and drainage may be recommended.While relatively common the frequency of the condition is unknown.The term is from the Greek “khalazion” meaning “small hailstone”.