Parents often worry about chalazion, a common eye condition in children. It resembles a tiny lump on the eyelid and is sometimes confused with a stye. Although the bump is usually harmless, parents may wonder how to effectively treat it because it can be uncomfortable.
Renowned pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky offers guidance on treating chalazion in kids. He describes the best ways to treat it, how to identify the symptoms, and what causes it.
We’ll examine Dr. Komarovsky’s suggestions in this post, with an emphasis on useful pointers and guidance for parents looking to aid in their kids’ speedy and comfortable recovery.
What is it?
Since the pathology’s name is less well-known than that of bronchitis or rhinitis, most parents are unaware of what we mean when we refer to "chalazion." And we are referring to the development of tiny formations called nodules on the inside of the upper or lower eyelid, which parents initially mistake for barley.
Barley is a purulent inflammation that only ever manifests itself acutely. Chalazion is invariably a chronic condition. What takes place in a child’s vision? Meibomian gland inflammation only develops around the gland if it clogs and secretions build up inside of it.
Such intricately named glands are found in the cartilaginous tissue itself, and their outlets are situated right on the inside of the eyelid. Up to 70 meibomian glands can be found in each eyelid (upper, lower, right, and left). They are in charge of causing the tear film’s lipid layer to secrete.
The purpose of the meibomian glands is to produce lipids to slow down the rate at which the tear fluid evaporates, if the lacrimal glands generate tears to lubricate the eyeball.
Chalazion is the term for the lipid "hail" that forms when one of the glands becomes clogged. Elderly people over 35 are particularly affected by the issue. Not a lot of pediatric ophthalmologists see it.
Causes of occurrence
Since the cause of meibomian gland blockage is still a mystery to modern medicine, no doctor can truly determine why a child has a chalazion on their eye. Therefore, the official explanation is that the blockage itself is the primary cause.
Benignity is indicated by inflammation surrounding the obstructed gland and lipid filling of the gland’s duct.
It’s challenging to determine what might cause a blockage. Certain specialists think that past surgeries serve as a "trigger mechanism," particularly if they weren’t totally cured. Furthermore thought to be linked to the development of pathology are blepharitis, diabetes, and oily skin.
Researchers have even established a link between intestinal dysbacteriosis and gastrointestinal disorders and the prevalence of chalazion.
Unbecoming nodules on the inner eyelid are also thought to be aided by stress, anxiety, a history of viral infections, a diet deficient in vitamins, and incorrect contact lens wear.
Chalazazion in children is typically a mild, non-dangerous ocular condition that often goes away on its own, according to Dr. Komarovsky. To hasten healing and lessen discomfort, he suggests doing easy at-home remedies like applying warm compresses. Surgery is usually a last resort, but medical intervention may be required in some cases if the chalazion persists or causes complications. Parents are reassured by Dr. Komarovsky that chalazion is treatable and that most children recover without any lasting problems when the proper care is given.
How to recognize?
Because of the pathology’s distinctive appearance—a round, dense neoplasm on the inside portion of the eyelid—parents can identify it with ease. Unlike barley, it doesn’t hurt to touch the "hail," and blinking doesn’t hurt either.
There is no impairment to the child’s vision due to the chalazion. Looking at the face without turning the eyelid reveals the defect as it grows, reaching a maximum size of 4-6 mm. The functions of the visual organs are unaffected by the skin’s swelling. In the event that there is any inconvenience, it is only aesthetic.
Chalazion rarely causes problems; however, in a few instances, itching "hailstones" caused the eyes to tear up more than usual. However, this does not imply that you can guilt-free abandon the harmless formation.
Inaction may allow the chalazion to enlarge further and increase the pressure on the cornea, which may result in astigmatism. The chalazion may develop into a cyst if it remains closed for an extended period of time.
Additionally, a "hailstone" may harbor bacterial infections, leading to purulent inflammation symptoms such as pain, swelling, and possibly even a rise in body temperature.
What should parents do?
Firstly, Evgeny Komarovsky and his spouse Ekaterina suggest that you should remain calm and not become agitated. Do not hesitate to contact a pediatric ophthalmologist if you have any questions about barley or chalazion. This expert will recognize all the differences right away, and following a standard visual examination, they will be confident in their assessment of the child’s condition.
It is not something to be afraid of to attend the appointment. The majority of the time, chalazion can be diagnosed only visually; instrumental techniques that could frighten or discomfort the child are typically avoided.
But if chalazions start to show up with almost unbelievable regularity, the doctor might have to perform a thorough investigation to differentiate the condition from a potentially fatal meibomian gland adenocarcinoma.
A histological analysis of the formation’s contents is advised in order to do this.
How to treat?
Initially, an ophthalmologist might advise parents to hold off a little while as self-healing cases of chalazion are fairly common in childhood and usually go away on their own.
An ophthalmologist may suggest applying anti-inflammatory ointment and disinfectant eye drops if parents find it uncomfortable to sit on their hands. Moms can also give the child’s eyelid a massage. A child can participate in a course of physiotherapy, such as UHF therapy, in a clinic.
Dry heating, according to ophthalmologist Ekaterina Komarovskaya, who specializes in children’s eye health, has a great impact. Three or four times a day, the chalazion-affected eyelid can be treated for five minutes using a heated diaper. However, children who exhibit signs of an inflammatory process in their eyes should avoid using this method.
Heating the area won’t stop the chalazion from becoming more inflamed if the eye is painful.
A thin needle containing corticosteroid hormones may be inserted directly into the chalazion itself in a medical facility if the condition is lengthy, progressive, and growing, lasting longer than six months. The hormones cause it to dissolve.
In surgical methods, the chalazion "granule" and its surrounding inflammatory "capsule" are removed after a surgeon cleans the meibomian gland ducts while the patient is under local anesthesia.
The child’s eye is covered with a tight bandage following surgery. The application of anti-inflammatory eye drops and ointments is also advised.
You shouldn’t be alarmed by the term "surgical excision." Young patients can benefit from medicine in ways beyond what a traditional surgeon can perform. These days, lasers are used in chalazion removal procedures.
Using a laser beam, the contents of the "hail" are extracted during this procedure without any cuts. Since laser surgery does not involve the use of stitches to close the inner eyelid, it is a less traumatic procedure with a simpler and easier recovery period.
The lack of a relapse risk is the primary benefit of laser surgery for chalazion. It is possible for the lipid formation on the inner eyelid to recur after a standard procedure rather than just happen once.
But before considering the benefits of removing chalazion in a particular way, parents should consider the following actions, according to Ekaterina and Evgeny Komarovsky:
- apply dry heat for five minutes three times a day;
- clean the edge of the eyelids twice a day from the rather fatty lipid secretion of the meibomian gland and dirt – for this, use a solution of baby shampoo ("without tears", of course).
When the chalazion does not go away or keeps getting bigger after six months, parents should visit the ophthalmologist again and talk about more aggressive ways to get rid of the unsightly benign formation.
The prognosis is excellent. In children, the formation usually goes away on its own without assistance from parents or medical professionals. In certain instances, the illness reacts favorably to therapy.
The possibility of a relapse exists if the chalazion capsule was not entirely removed. Complication cases, which include the development of an abscess, phlegmon, and a cyst or fistula at the location of the chalazion, rarely affect more than one in ten individuals who receive this diagnosis. And this one in ten, on average, falls into the group of kids whose parents attempted to remove the "hail" themselves (sadly, there are those who think the best course of action is to pierce, squeeze out, and liberally lubricate with antibiotic ointment).
It is strictly forbidden to touch the lipid neoplasm or attempt to remove it mechanically.
Dr. Komarovsky stresses that a well-rounded strategy is needed to treat chalazion in children. While parents shouldn’t become alarmed, they should take quick action to avoid further problems.
Chalazazion frequently goes away on its own or with the use of easy remedies like warm compresses. To make sure the child receives the right care, it is imperative to consult a specialist if the condition worsens or persists.
Additionally, Dr. Komarovsky reminds parents that chalazion and other eye conditions can be avoided in children by practicing good hygiene and scheduling routine eye exams.
