Chalazion surgery removes a small red bump that develops on the eyelid.
The bump,chalazion, comes up whenever oil glands in the eyelid become blocked.
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When Will I Need Chalazion Surgery?
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A chalazion most often occurs on the upper eyelid near the eyelashes.
An infection does not cause the blockage.
Chalazia also frequently recur.
Chalazia are painless, not triggered by an infection, and form in the eyelid.
Oculoplastic surgeons specialize in plastic and reconstructive surgeries involving the eyelids and certain other parts of the face.
Children and adults can have chalazion surgery.
Potential Risks
Chalazion surgery is generally a safe procedure.
What to Wear
Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes on the day of your surgery.
Avoid putting on makeup on the day of your chalazion surgery.
If you usually wear contact lenses, wear glasses that day.
Clear liquids may be allowed up to two hours prior to your scheduled arrival time.
Medications
You may need to avoid some medications before chalazion surgery.
What to Bring
On the day of surgery, bring your ID and insurance card.
Also, bring along someone to drive you home after your procedure.
Surgery
Chalazion surgery is performed in an office, outpatient surgical center, or hospital.
The last two locations are used when you need general anesthesia.
Young children often need general anesthesia.
Your healthcare provider may give them a sedative to help them sleep before giving them anesthesia.
As a result, they’ll be unaware of having the IV inserted.
For older children and adults, the surgery is usually performed with a local anesthetic.
You may feel a brief pinch or stinging.
After that, chalazion surgery is painless.
You may feel pressure from the instruments used to remove the chalazion, but you won’t feel pain.
The incision usually goes underneath the eyelid, so you won’t have a visible scar.
The procedure takes about 20 minutes and doesn’t require stitches.
Your healthcare provider will apply an antibiotic ointment and a pressure patch.
If you had local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, you will be taken to a recovery area.
The healthcare team monitors you while you wake up.
Once you are fully awake, you will be discharged with post-operative instructions.
You may need to take it easy the rest of the day after general anesthesia.
Those who had local anesthesia should be able to return to most of their activities after leaving the office.
It’s typical to experience minor and temporary side effects such as slight discomfort, bruising, or swelling.
Your healthcare provider will prescribe an antibiotic cream or eyedrops to use for a week after the procedure.
Prevention
For the long-term, you may be able to prevent new chalazia from forming.
You may also need surgery to remove a chalazion if it enlarges, affects your vision.
Chalazion surgery is an outpatient procedure for everyone except for young children.
The procedure to drain the bump and remove the blockage only takes about 20 minutes and requires little downtime.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Eyelid anatomy.
American Academy of Ophthalmology: EyeWiki.Chalazion.
Oxford University Hospitals.Removal of a chalazion cyst.
University of Michigan Health, Kellogg Eye Center.Chalazion and Stye.
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Chalazion.
NYU Langone Health.Surgery for stye (and chalazion)
