Chalazion
A chalazion is an intense irritation that usually occurs on the upper eyelid (but also on the lower). The eyelid swells, irritates, bothers, reddens and gives the feeling that a small lump has formed. This “ball” can grow quite large and create difficulty in the practical functioning of the eye and vision and in everyday life. Halazium occurs at any age.
Cause
Halazium is an inflammation of the eyelid, located in the glands located on the edge of the eyelids (Meibomian glands). On the edge of the eyelids there is an oil producing mechanism. The oil is produced inside the eyelid by small glands that drain into small openings located behind the lash line. The purpose of producing the oil that flows on the lids is to mix with the liquid component of the tears, so that the tears lubricate the very sensitive surface of the eye that comes into constant friction with the eyelids during eye-blinking.
When the production of oil in the meibomian glands is not normal but in a viscous way, or if makeup or something else closes one of the openings of these glands, then they become blocked and “bloated”. Usually cataracts are caused by blepharitis which is not a disease or infection, but a malfunction of the oil glands inside them. Eventually a cyst slowly forms. Symptoms are pain, redness and swelling of the eyelids. Patients with rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis are at increased risk of developing hail and possibly multiple or recurrent hail.
When the gallstone is small and without other symptoms, it may resolve on its own. If it is large it can affect vision due to eyelid droop or eye pressure. Several times the cataract is infected by microbes, so pus is also observed in the area of the redness. Sometimes a hailstorm can cause sudden swelling of the entire eyelid.
Treatment
When the gallstone is small and without symptoms, it can disappear without treatment. If it is large, it can blur vision due to distortion of the shape of the eye. Topical eye ointments and eye drops with an antibiotic or mixed-use topical cortisone are the main treatment. It is important to start treatment immediately because if the inflammation becomes chronic then it can create a full cyst which is not treated with medication but with surgical removal. So if the cataract has not passed after 3 or 4 weeks, then surgical removal can be done.
Therefore, hailstones may be treated by one or a combination of the following methods:
•Antibiotics or combinations with steroid topical eye drops during the day and ointment at night for a few days.
•Warm pads on the eye. Warm packs can be applied in a variety of ways The simplest is to keep a clean towel dipped in warm water on the closed eyelids for 5-10 minutes, 3-4 times a day. Rewet the towel each time to keep it warm enough. Finally, we dry the eyelids with gentle movements and wipe every trace of pus or other discharge with clean gauze, which we change with each wipe.
•Massage the gland loosely and periodically, combined with medicinal treatment and warm pads
•Halaziums usually respond well to treatment, although some people are prone to recurrences. Repeated treatment and more thorough monitoring is then required to rule out recurrences.
If a cataract reappears in the same location then the ophthalmologist will request a biopsy to rule out more serious problems.
In some cases, if the cataract occurs on a background of very severe blepharitis, a tetracycline family antibiotic is given by mouth, ie tetracycline or doxycycline (vibramycin) or minocycline (Minocyn). These antibiotics, even if they are mild, have a side effect which is nevertheless useful in the treatment of quartz: they are metabolized and excreted by the body from the oil glands and thus entering this mechanism, the secretions become thinner so that it can to decongest the gland and “deflate” and calm the hail.
In some extreme cases where the quartz persists and does not go away with conservative treatment, such as the one mentioned above, it is surgically removed or treated by injecting a small amount of cortisone into the “heart” of the quartz
It should be noted that there is a small chance that someone using all this treatment will have a successful outcome of the problem, but will be left with a small palpable blemish on the eyelids which is usually purely cosmetic.
Surgical Treatment
When the cataract does not subside with the above, a surgical procedure is performed which does not require a hospital stay. After the anesthetic drops are instilled, you will be given an anesthetic injection under the skin, next to the cyst that has been created, so that you do not feel any pain. The feeling you will feel is similar to the injection given by the dentist. Then, the surgeon will turn the eyelid and from a small vertical incision that he will make inside the eyelid, he will remove the contents of the cyst along with part of the wall. Finally, an eye patch with pressure is placed on the eye, which should remain for at least the next 6 hours.
After removing the eye patch, you can wash your eye with a clean cotton towel or gauze moistened with water, which you have previously boiled, to clean your eye of possible remnants of blood or other secretions. You may notice a bruise on your eye, which, however, will disappear within the next few days. The doctor will give you antibiotic drops or ointment which you should use 4 times a day for at least a week.