Kalazion: symptoms, causes and treatment

Definition of kalazion

Kalazion is a small, painless lump that appears slowly on the eyelid. These bumps appear due to oil glands (sebaceous / sebum) is blocked. This condition is generally not an infection.

This disease usually appears as a lump in the eyelid area that is red, tender, and looks swollen. Within a few days, the condition can turn into a slow-growing lump the size of a pea.

These bumps on the eyelids are often confused with a rash or rash (hordeolum), which is an infection of the oil glands in the eyelids. In fact, both are different.

A stye is a painful red lump on the eyelid. This condition usually occurs closer to the surface of the eyelid. Meanwhile, kalazion is generally painless.

How common is this condition?

Kalazion is an eye disease that can happen to anyone, but children are more prone to experiencing it because they rub their eyes frequently. You can prevent this disease by reducing risk factors.

Please consult your doctor for more information.

Signs and symptoms of kalazion

Kalazion is an eye condition that has symptoms that feel like a load from inside the eye or a red lump on the eyelid.

Symptoms of kalazion include:

• Too many tears
• The lump is usually painless
• Impaired vision or loss of vision
• Sensitive to light, feels uncomfortable in bright light

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should immediately consult a doctor as soon as possible if the lump that appears has disturbed your vision.

Cause of kalazion

Kalazion occurs because the oil glands in the eyelids (meibomian glands) become blocked. These oil glands are responsible for regulating the balance of moisture in the eyelids.

These oil glands can become clogged by dirt or due to poor eye hygiene. The sebaceous glands can become blocked and burst at a later date, and are at risk of becoming inflamed due to infection.

This disease is more common in people with inflammatory conditions, such as seborrheic, acne, rosacea, chronic blepharitis, or long-lasting inflammation of the eyelids.

This condition is also common in people with viral conjunctivitis or an infection that covers the inside of the eyelids and.

Recurring eyelid lumps are an uncommon condition. It is a symptom of a more severe condition. However, this is rare.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for kalazion?

There are several factors that can increase your risk of experiencing kalazion, including:

• Have a history of previous eye disorders
• Touching eyes with dirty hands

Diagnosis & Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the usual tests to check for kalazion?

Doctors can diagnose this disease by observing and examining the lumps on the eyelids. Your doctor can ask about the pain or when the symptoms started to make sure you don't have it phony disease, folded eyes, or other eye diseases.

The doctor may perform the following tests:

• Patient history, to determine symptoms and any other health problems that may be the cause of kalazion.
• External examination of the eye, including the structure of the eyelids, skin texture, and appearance of eyelashes.
• Evaluate the eye, including the base, lash and oil gland opening using bright light and magnification.

What are my treatment options for kalazion?

Kalazion generally resolves on its own without any treatment within a few weeks. Even so, there are several at-home ways you can treat this condition.

Quoted from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, several treatment options that can be done to treat kalazion, include:

1. Compress warm water

You can warm compress the area of ​​the lump on the eyelid to treat kalazion. Soak a clean cloth in warm water and place it on your eyelids for 10-15 minutes. Do this 3-5 times a day.

Warm compresses of water help for clogged oil glands to run smoothly.

2. Massaging

Gently massaging the eyelid area with warm water can help clear clogged oil ducts. Before doing a massage, make sure you clean your hands to reduce the risk of eye infection.

After the kalazion or lump on the eyelid starts to dry out, keep the eye area clean by not touching the eye with your hands, especially if your hands are dirty. Apart from being able to make the lumps appear again, this can also trigger an infection.

3. Do not squeeze the lump

How to get rid of a lump on the eyelid or kalazion which is no less important is to avoid squeezing this lump.

Even though it can be very annoying and anxious to want to touch it, squeezing the lump risks causing the fluid inside to leak out and spreading the infection on the eyelid.

4. Administration of antibiotics

Antibiotics are necessary if there is an infection due to kalazion lumps on the eyelids.

5. Steroid injections

This method of treating kalazion is done if there is swelling that blocks vision. You can only get this one treatment with a doctor's prescription.

6. Surgical removal of lumps

This method needs to be done when the lump on the eyelid has started to affect vision, even making the eye blurry.

This method of getting rid of the lump on the eyelid is not considered a major operation so it is performed in the doctor's office (not in the operating room) under local anesthesia.

Before surgery, be sure to tell what medications you have been taking so far.

These various drugs include vitamins and supplements, herbal medicines, prescription drugs, and easy-to-buy food stalls on the market.

You also need to mention the health conditions you have, such as sleep apnea for example, which can increase the risk of side effects from the anesthesia or anesthesia being given.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat kalazion?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with this condition:

• Gently rub the lids with a clean cloth or cotton ball
• Keep your face, scalp, eyebrows and hands clean
• Limit use make-up on the eye
• Tell your doctor if you experience any abnormalities or symptoms that do not improve when you have used eye drops or oral medications prescribed by your doctor
• Tell your doctor if kalazion does not go away after 2 weeks of treatment.

Don't try to squeeze the kalazion with your own hands. Also make sure not to touch it as much as possible.

Lumps on the eyelids are not a completely avoidable condition. However, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of getting kalazion, namely:

• Always wash your hands before touching the eyes.
• Make sure that anything that comes in contact with your eyes, such as contact lenses and glasses, is clean of dirt.
• If you have a condition that increases your risk of developing kalazion, follow your doctor's recommendations to help control it.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.