Definition
Chalazion is a chronic, non-infectious inflammation, which affects the sebaceous glands of Meibomio located along the eyelids; for this reason it is also known as Meibomio cyst.
The chalazion can affect both the upper and lower eyelids; it can also be external, if placed near the edge of the eyelashes, or internal, if located near the conjunctiva.
If the inflammation involves more glands than Meibomio, then one speaks of calaziosi.
Causes
Chalazion is an inflammation caused by obstruction of the excretory duct of the meibomian sebaceous glands. With the closing of the excretory duct, the secretion produced by the aforesaid glands stagnates inside them and accumulates giving rise to a cyst (better defined as lipogranuloma).
Initially, it was thought that the chalazion had infectious origins, a hypothesis which was then discarded. However, it is believed that the presence of a pre-existing infection can facilitate the onset of calazion. In fact, it is not unusual for a stye (a disease caused by a bacterial infection) that is not adequately treated to evolve into chalazion. Furthermore, it has been observed that in patients suffering from blepharitis, acne rosacea or eczema of the skin there is an increased likelihood of the onset of the same disease.
Symptoms
As mentioned, chalazion appears as a cyst (or lipogranuloma) that can be located near the eyelash margin, or internally to the eyelid.
The symptoms that can occur in the presence of chalazion are: swelling of the eyelid, photophobia, blurred vision, eye redness, eye discharge and blepharoptosis.
In the initial stage, the chalazion could be confused with the stye, but - unlike the latter - it is not painful.
However, when chalazion grows a lot, it can exert excessive pressure on the cornea causing eye pain.
If the chalazion is associated with a pre-existing blepharitis, furthermore, small crusts may form between the cilia that cause itching and burning.
The information on Calazio - Drugs for the Treatment of Calazio does not intend to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Calazio - Drugs for Chalks' Care.
drugs
In some cases, the calazio tends to self-purify and heal spontaneously within 2-8 weeks, without the need for any type of treatment. Eventually - to facilitate the healing process - hot-moist compresses can be performed several times a day, in order to favor the drainage of the obstructed Meibomian gland.
If the calazio does not heal by itself, the possible treatments consist in the surgical removal of the cyst and / or in the use of steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (corticosteroids). The surgery can be accompanied by an antibiotic therapy to be carried out both before and after the removal of the lipogranuloma, in order to prevent or counteract any bacterial infections. Finally, it is good to remember that to avoid the onset of serious complications - such as damage to the eyelid and infections - the surgery must be performed only by a doctor who specializes in this type of operation.
Even if the calazio is associated with a blepharitis, it may be useful to resort to topical administration of antibiotic drugs.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids can be used in the treatment of calazio due to their anti-inflammatory properties. They can be administered topically in the form of eye drops or ophthalmic ointments, or intralesional injections can be made.
However, it should be remembered that the use of corticosteroids should not be performed in cases of purulent ophthalmia, stye or viral infections, whose symptoms can be masked or aggravated by treatment with these drugs.
- Triamcinolone (Taioftal ®): Triamcinolone is available as a suspension for injection for intravitreal use and can be used to burn the meibomian sebaceous gland. The amount of drug usually used is 0.05-0.1 ml, to be administered in a single dose. In any case, the doctor - if he deems it necessary - may decide to vary the dose of medication used.
- Hydrocortisone (Idracemi ®, Cortivis ®): hydrocortisone can be used both for the treatment of chalazion, and as a support treatment for cyst removal surgery. Generally, it is used in pharmaceutical formulations for topical use, such as eye drops and ophthalmic ointments.
The dose of medication usually used is two drops of eye drops, to be administered two or more times a day according to medical prescription. If ophthalmic ointment is used, it is recommended to apply the drug 2-3 times a day, according to a medical prescription.
- Dexamethasone (Dexamono ®, Etacortilen ®, Luxazone ®, Visumetazone ®): dexamethasone is available for ocular administration in the form of eye drops, ophthalmic gel and ophthalmic ointment. The usual dose is one drop of eye drops or ophthalmic gel, to be administered in the affected eye 3-4 times a day, according to medical prescription. When using the ophthalmic ointment, instead, it is recommended to make an application every two or three hours, according to the doctor's prescription.
Furthermore, dexamethasone is also available in medicinal products in association with antibiotic drugs, such as chloramphenicol (Cloradex ®) and netilmicin (Netildex ®). These preparations can be used following the surgical removal of the chalazion, since - in addition to exerting an anti-inflammatory action thanks to the presence of dexamethasone - they also prevent or counteract any bacterial infections thanks to the presence of the active antibiotic ingredient.
Antibiotics
As mentioned, therapy with antibiotics can be carried out in the case in which the calazio is associated with blepharitis, or as a pre- or post-operative prophylaxis in the surgical operation performed to remove the cyst.
In the latter case, the most widely used antibiotic is chloramphenicol (Flogocyn ®, Sificetina ®) in the form of eye drops or ophthalmic ointment. When using eye drops, the recommended dose is 1-2 drops, to be administered 3-4 times a day, or according to the doctor's prescription. When ophthalmic ointment is used, it is recommended to perform three or four applications a day.
For the antibiotic treatment that must be carried out when the chalazion is associated with blepharitis, see the article dedicated to "Blepharitis Treatment Medicines".
