Chalazion (meibomian cyst)

A chalazion is a blocked up, inflamed meibomian gland. It is often referred to as a meibomian cyst or ‘stye’, as these are very similar lumps which occur on the eyelid. A chalazion is a blocked up, inflamed meibomian gland. Your meibomian glands are located in your eyelids. They produce an oily secretion which slows the evaporation of your tear film. They have tiny pin-point openings along the length of your eyelids, behind the line of your eyelashes. Sometimes a meibomian gland gets blocked up. It begins to swell and may become infected.

An infected gland resembles a boil-like swelling of the eyelid (see photograph below ).

An upper lid chalazion

A lower lid chalazion

It is treated with antibiotics, usually an ointment, but sometimes as tablets. If it is about to burst, warm compresses can help the “pus” to come out.

Patients who have blepharitis are very susceptible to the development of a chalazion.

Click on this link to watch a video of a patient undergoing the incision and curettage of a lower lid meibomian cyst (chalazion) under local anaesthesia (sedation can be offered for the very anxious) – https://youtu.be/cTrIAAUbEjA

If the lump does not resolve with the application of hot compresses and massage your ophthalmic surgeon will offer to incise and curette the chalazion after giving a local anaesthetic injection into the eyelid.

A stye is an infection of an eyelash follicle. It resembles a yellow-headed spot. Antibiotic ointment is usually sufficient to get rid of a stye and prevents it spreading to other eyelashes. In most cases there is no special cause, and the chalazion or stye is a one-off. Diabetes, however, should be excluded as a possible cause of a stye and this is easily done by testing a blood or urine sample. If the problem is recurrent blepharitis should be suspected. This can be caused by certain skin complaints, such as rosacea, dermatitis and dandruff. Blepharitis needs a lot of self care – click here for more information https://www.faceandeye.co.uk/eye-conditions/eyelid-conditions/blepharitis/

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC or ‘Rodent Ulcer’)

A basal cell carcinoma is a common malignant eyelid tumour that is readily treatable if diagnosed at an early stage. There are a number of different treatment options. The gold standard is Mohs micrographic surgery and an oculoplastic reconstruction. Click here for further information – https://www.faceandeye.co.uk/eyelid-surgery/eyelid-surgery/eyelid-tumour-removal/

A typical lower lid nodular basal cell carcinoma

A typical lower lid noduloulcerative basal cell carcinoma

A typical upper lid basal cell carcinoma

A typical medial canthal nodular basal cell carcinoma

Cyst of Moll

A common benign eyelid cyst

A typical lateral canthal cyst of Moll with an adjacent much smaller cyst 

A left upper lid cyst of Moll

Seborrhoeic keratosis

A common benign skin lesion typically seen in older patients

An upper lid seborrhoeic keratosis

Squamous cell carcinoma

This is a much rarer malignant eyelid tumour

A squamous cell carcinoma (the diagnosis required an initial biopsy)

The appearance following an excision with a skin graft reconstruction