What happens if a chalazion is left untreated?

What happens if a chalazion is left untreated?

It can be alarming to notice a lump growing around your eye, but most of the time it is harmless and is likely due to a chalazion. However, in some cases, if left untreated, a chalazion can get worse and lead to more serious complications. At the Eye & Dental Clinic, we are experts in eye care, so we have provided you with everything you need to know about a chalazion, what to expect, home treatment, when to see an eye care professional and what happens if left untreated.

What is a chalazion?

A chalazion is a small, painless lump or swelling that forms within the eyelid. It is typically caused by the blockage of one of the small oil glands located in the eyelid. These glands produce an oily substance that helps lubricate the eye by preventing the evaporation of tears.

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.

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.

Symptoms of a chalazion

A chalazion feels firm to the touch and often isn’t painful, unlike styes; however, in some rare cases, a chalazion can be caused by an infection, and the lump can appear red and become quite sore. However, if you don’t know if you have a stye or a chalazion, don’t worry, as the at-home treatment is the same for both.

If you are developing a chalazion, some signs to look out for are:

• A painful lump or swelling under either the bottom or top lid.
• Mild irritation, particularly at the beginning, and watery eyes.
• As the chalazion grows, it could cause blurred vision.

As you can see, these symptoms are similar to those of a stye. A stye is different in that it is caused by an infection, which makes it a little more painful and contagious. The good thing to note is that usually, chalazions aren’t contagious. If you are worried about your symptoms, always seek professional advice.

What causes a chalazion?

Your eyelids have tiny glands that produce an oily substance to help keep your eyes moist. When one of those glands gets blocked, a chalazion is formed, which is essentially a swollen, pain-free gland. A chalazion can also be the result of an infection; however, this is less common.

If you think you have a stye and not a chalazion, you will likely experience pain due to an infection. The treatment for both a chalazion and a stye is the same, and good eye care and hygiene can help to avoid both.

Avoiding a chalazion

There are a few things you can do to avoid getting a chalazion, although they aren’t always preventable. Since a chalazion sometimes occurs due to a build-up of bacteria, here are some steps to help avoid getting one this way:

• Make sure you clean your hands often.
• Try not to touch your eyes, but if you need to, ensure they’re clean.
• Change your towels regularly, especially any you use on your face.
• Try not to share towels.
• Clean your hands before and after handling your contact lenses.
• Clean your makeup brushes regularly and don’t share makeup such as mascaras and eyeliners with other people.

Who is more prone to getting a chalazion?

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.

Poor nutrition can also lead to chalazion, so make sure you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables and getting a balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals so your eyes can function as they should, and you’re less at risk of developing a chalazion.

Diagnosis and treatment

A diagnosis isn’t always necessary, as the treatment for a stye or a chalazion is the same, but it’s always best to get it looked at by an eye care professional if you’re unsure what it is or if you’re concerned about it.

Your eye care professional will examine your eye by using a bright light and a magnifying tool to determine the cause of the lump. The examination will be pain-free and usually doesn’t take long to diagnose.

At the Eye & Dental Clinic, we recommend coming to see us for a check-up if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms with a lump around your eye:

• Reduced and blurred vision.
• Red eyes, pain and aching.
• Lid swelling, burning and eye irritation.
• Flashing lights and floating shapes.
• Skin rash around the eye area.
• Itching, foreign body sensation.
• Watering eyes and discharging eyes.
• Twitching of eyelids.

Most treatments involve things you can do at home yourself. Here are some examples of what you can do to get rid of a chalazion:

• 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 happens if a chalazion is left untreated?

If you have a chalazion, 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.

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.

If you find that your chalazion is causing you more discomfort than you expect it should, isn’t healing with home treatment or is getting worse, it’s important to get it checked out, as you may need some additional treatment to help the chalazion subside.

The Eye & Dental Clinic

This is where we come in! At the Eye & Dental Clinic, we recommend you pay us a visit to check that your chalazion is healing as it should. We are a friendly and professional clinic, welcoming the people of Bury and the surrounding communities, and we would be happy to welcome you 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.

Not only do we offer eye care, but we are a dental practice too. We offer emergency dental appointments with flexible appointment times. See our deposits and missed appointments policy to learn more about how our practice appointments run. To learn more about us, see our practice policies and procedures.

To conclude, if a chalazion is left untreated, most of the time it will still get better on its own. However, in some cases, an untreated chalazion can cause more serious problems, so it’s always best to get it checked out by an eye care professional and to follow the home treatments outlined in this post.

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