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What Causes Recurring Chalazion?

Posted on Sat, 5 Sep 2015

Question: Hello, I had a Chalazion for 7 weeks . Week 2 had a Kenalog injection. Week 7 had them surgically removed from my lower lid. 48 hours later, they came back. Should have listen to my dr. When in surgery he wanted to give another Kenalog injection. I said no. I didn't use antibiotic ointment either. So now I have two more that cropped up. But these are already draining with very little heat. My question is; how long do Chalazions typically take to drain on there own. It's currently been draining a little all day. Thank you!

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Chalazion drains over 1-2 weeks.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care Magic.

I am Dr. DADAPEER K, an Ophthalmologist and I will be answering your question.

I reviewed your history.

The chalazion are known to recur after surgery or kenalog injection.
But this recurrence occurs after 1-3 months. Since it is only 2 days following surgery this will be edema related to surgery. Chalazion drain for 1-2 weeks and gradually subside. In this period the use of warm compression and antibiotic drugs will be helpful.

Hope this answers your question.

Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (14 hours later)

Thank you. One more question . Kenelog injections how long do they last. Can you get 2 injections in one week ?

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Usually second injection if required is given after 2 weeks

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

Two injections are usually not given in the same week as kenalog acts for about 2 weeks.
Hence if second injection is required it is given after 2 weeks.

Hope this answers your question.

Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (9 hours later)

One more question regards to my Chalazions. These new ones that I've had about a week now, itch from time to time. Actually I thinks it's my skin around the area from all the soakings! Is that common ?

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes it is common to have itching and soaking of skin around chalazion.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

The soakings around the chalazion indicate presence of cheesy material inside the chalazion and applying warm compression will help in resolution of these as liquid cheesy material can be easily expressed out.

Hence I would like to advice you to use antibiotic eye ointment and continue warm compression for these new chalazions.

Hope this answers your questions.

Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (3 days later)

Another question please regards to Chalazions. I've had these new ones about 10 days now. As I stated last Friday or so they started to drain. They continuely fill up with puss, my eye is so inflamed, itchy and the surrounding skin is sore and bright red. I did have a Kenalog injection a week ago today. Unfortunately my doctor is on vacation until next Thursday. I have an appt then. Can you please advise as what I should do. I'm currently using antibiotics at night ointment is it normal for it to drain and continue to fill back up with puss?

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (59 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It is normal to drain and fill back with pus, no need to be worried.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

In the acute phase it is normal for the chalazion to drain and to get fill back with the pus. The treatment is use of antibiotic eye ointment and warm compression.

Hence the treatment is in right direction and no need to be worried about it.

Hope this answers your question.

Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (14 minutes later)

Thank you. I'm getting really nervous , because the more I use the compresses yes it drains , but the more I do and wash my eye with baby shampoo the worse it looks and feels . It's itchy and so irritated . Can this actually burst on its own without all the warm compresses

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It can burst open without warm compression also.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

Chalazion can burst open without warm compression but with warm compression the chances are more as the pus inside blocking the duct gets liquified by applying warm compression.
If you are not comfortable with warm compression then continue the use of antibiotic eye ointment.

Hope this answers your question.

Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (25 minutes later)

Thank you! I want these gone! I went thru the surgery 2 weeks ago, just to have more crop up 48 hours later. So the original Chalazions are gone. These as I stated before were caused after the surgery. I'm extremely frustrated, this entire process has been going on since XXXXXXX 2nd! I was chalazion free for 48 hours, recovering from surgery when these cropped up. All the blogs I read say oh they drained and that was it....From what you told me, and my physician, this horrible process can last 1-2 weeks of filing up and draining. My eye is a complete mess. extremely red , irritated, bloodshot, but you're telling me this is normal?

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This can be because of inflammation following chalazion surgery.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thank you for the follow up question.

Chalazion will not cause extremely red, irritated and blood shot eye, this may be because of inflammation following surgery.
This will require treatment by use of anti-inflammatory drugs and continuing antibiotic eye drops or eye ointments.
The inflammation following surgery will recover and resolve with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.

If possible do post me photo of the affected eye so that I confirm the diagnosis and advice you accordingly.

Hope this information is helpful to you.

Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (6 days later)

thank you for all the information. I don't believe these Chalazions wll go away on there own. Antibiotic ointment and warm compresses aren't doing anything. It appears I even have a couple more ;-(...as I've stated before. I had several for 7 weeks before I had them removed and by that time they were a mess. 48 hrs after surgery I got another . I've had these new ones almost three weeks. I'm hoping with antibiotics and a Kenelog injection when I get these removed, I won't get them back, at least as quick as I did last time. Your expert opinion please and prognosis from everything I've told you please

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
The use of kenalog injection and antibiotics prevents recurrence.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

I reviewed your history.

Since it is almost three weeks now you can go for surgery for chalazion.

The use of kenalog injection and antibiotics are definitely helpful and will prevent recurrence. Hence this time following surgery for chalazion you need to go for them.

Hope this answers your question and the information is helpful to you.

Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (21 minutes later)

Thank you for the quick response. When I see my doctor on Thursday I'm hoping he can do the surgery. As I said surgery was done three weeks ago tomorrow . I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Again, thank you, you've eased my mind a bit. 10 weeks of this is a lot. Its unnerving walking around with this red ugly eye :-(

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Thank you

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for writing to me on Health care Magic

Do write back to me after consulting your doctor.

With regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (8 days later)

Hello, so it's been 6 days since I had my last Kenelog injection. Im suppose to remain on the antibiotic/Steriod ointment twice a day until next Thursday when I have a f/u appt. Thw Chalazion is gone, but I still have swelling and a bit discoloration / bruising under my eye. The swelling seems to go up and down from day to day. Apparently , with all the hot compresses I really did a number on my eye. My question is: is this normal ? Also how long before the swelling subsides? Yes, the eye in general does look better, but I'm concerned about this. I wash my face light cool/warm water in the a.m. And p.m before apying ointment. Should I be using cold packs or just let it heal.

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
The swelling may take 2-3 weeks to subside completely.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

I reviewed your history.

The presence of swelling and bruising indicate presence of inflammation. Some amount of inflammation is expected and it usually takes 2-3 weeks to subside completely. You can use cold packs and continue applying ointment.

I hope you will be fine.

Hope this information is helpful to you.

Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar