Continually Updated Clinical Reference
 
 
  All Sources     eMedicine     Medscape     Drug Reference     MEDLINE
 
 
 

Chalazion: Follow-Up

Author Information and Disclosures

Follow-Up

Further Outpatient Care:

  • Advise patients to obtain follow-up care with an ophthalmologist if the chalazion does not resolve, has a recurrent episode, or additional symptoms develop.

Deterrence/Prevention:

  • Classic or typical chalazion do occur with more frequency in patients with immune disorders or acne rosacea and in individuals who have high UV exposure.
  • Medical management of these medical conditions, limiting UV exposure by using sunglasses and hats, and avoiding sand fleabites (to avoid leishmaniasis) can theoretically reduce chalazion formation.

Complications:

  • Potential complications of chalazia are cosmetic deformity and infection (development of hordeolum).
  • Complications of improper drainage are disruption of lash growth, lid deformity, and lid fistula.
  • Recurrences of chalazia are common.

Prognosis:

  • Resolution of chalazia with conservative management is common; however, recurrences are possible.
  • Some specialists recommend biopsy and drainage of all chalazion, primary or recurrent. Specimens should be submitted for histopathologic examination.

Patient Education:

  • Instruct patients regarding proper use of warm compresses.
  • Avoid draining or popping the chalazion.

Miscellaneous

Medical/Legal Pitfalls:

  • A chalazion is not an emergency medical condition; however, the emergency physician should refer the patient to an ophthalmologist for definitive examination and treatment.
  • Applying warm compress to the chalazion may be satisfactory for the emergency department treatment.
  • Recurrent chalazion, missed diagnosis of conditions that masquerade as chalazion, inadvertent corneal perforation, and exacerbation of viral or bacterial infection are risks when the emergency physician assumes primary care responsibility for the chalazion.
Caption: Picture 1. Chalazion (photo by Larry Stack, MD)
Click to see larger pictureClick to see detailView Full Size Image
Picture Type: Photo
Caption: Picture 2. Chalazion with the lid inverted (photo by Larry Stack, MD)
Click to see larger pictureClick to see detailView Full Size Image
Picture Type: Photo
« Previous Page Section 4 of 4  
[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

Bibliography

  1. Aoki M, Kawana S: Bilateral chalazia of the lower eyelids associated with pulmonary tuberculosis. Acta Derm Venereol 2002; 82(5): 386-7[Medline].
  2. Berman JD: Human leishmaniasis: clinical, diagnostic, and chemotherapeutic developments in the last 10 years. Clin Infect Dis 1997 Apr; 24(4): 684-703[Medline].
  3. Brookes JL, Bentley C, Verma S: Microcystic adnexal carcinoma masquerading as a chalazion. Br J Ophthalmol 1998 Feb; 82(2): 196-7[Medline].
  4. Crama N, Toolens AM, van der Meer JW: Giant chalazia in the hyperimmunoglobulinemia E (hyper-IgE) syndrome. Eur J Ophthalmol 2004 May-Jun; 14(3): 258-60[Medline].
  5. De Silva DJ, Tumuluri K, Joshi N: Conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma: atypical presentation of HIV. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol 2005 Aug; 33(4): 419-20[Medline].
  6. Destafeno JJ, Kodsi SR, Primack JD: Recurrent Staphylococcus aureus chalazia in hyperimmunoglobulinemia E (Job's) syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 2004 Dec; 138(6): 1057-8[Medline].
  7. Gershen HJ: Chalazion. In: Fraunfelder FT et al, eds. Current Ocular Therapy, 4. WB Saunders; 1995: 563-564.
  8. Ho SY, Lai JS: Subcutaneous steroid injection as treatment for chalazion: prospective case series. Hong Kong Med J 2002 Feb; 8(1): 18-20[Medline].
  9. Hosal BM, Zilelioglu G: Ocular complication of intralesional corticosteroid injection of a chalazion. Eur J Ophthalmol 2003 Nov-Dec; 13(9-10): 798-9[Medline].
  10. Khan JA, Doane JF, Grove AS: Sebaceous and meibomian carcinomas of the eyelid. Recognition, diagnosis, and management. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 1991; 7(1): 61-6[Medline].
  11. Koo L, Hatton MP, Rubin PA: "Pseudo-pseudochalazion": Giant Chalazion Mimicking Eyelid Neoplasm. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 2005 Sep; 21(5): 391-2[Medline].
  12. Litoff D, Balin MW: Ocular infections and inflammation. In: Catalano RA, ed. Ocular Emergencies. WB Saunders; 1992: 468-471.
  13. Mansour AM, Chan CC, Crawford MA: Virus-induced chalazion. Eye 2005 Mar 4;[Medline].
  14. Mustafa TA, Oriafage IH: Three methods of treatment of chalazia in children. Saudi Med J 2001 Nov; 22(11): 968-72[Medline].
  15. Palva J, Pohjanpelto PE: Intralesional corticosteroid injection for the treatment of chalazia. Acta Ophthalmologica 1983; 61: 933-937[Medline].
  16. Sadeghian G, Nilfroushzadeh MA, Moradi SH: Ocular leishmaniasis: a case report. Dermatol Online J 2005; 11(2): 19[Medline].
  17. Santa Cruz CS, Culotta T, Cohen EJ: Chalazion-induced hyperopia as a cause of decreased vision. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers 1997 Aug; 28(8): 683-4[Medline].
  18. Shields JA, Demirci H, Marr BP: Sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelids: personal experience with 60 cases. Ophthalmology 2004 Dec; 111(12): 2151-7[Medline].
  19. Smythe D, Hurwitz JJ, Tayfour F: The management of chalazion: a survey of Ontario ophthalmologists. Can J Ophthalmol 1990 Aug; 25(5): 252-5[Medline].

Chalazion excerpt

[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

Author Information and Disclosures

Author: Jerome F.X. Naradzay, MD, FACEP, Emergency Services Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Maria Parham Medical Center

Coauthor(s): Sally Santen, MD, Program Director, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University

Jerome F.X. Naradzay, MD, FACEP, is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Editor Information

Editor(s): David FM Brown, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Vice-Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine; Douglas Lavenburg, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Christiana Care Health Systems; John Halamka, MD, Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; and Barry Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Professor of Internal Medicine, and Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Related Articles
Patient Education
 
 
We subscribe to the
HONcode principles of the
Health On the Net Foundation		  
© 1996-2007 by WebMD
All Rights Reserved
DISCLAIMER:The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.