Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

ARTICLES
Year
: 1981  |  Volume : 29  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 83--85

Non-surgical treatment of chalazion


KK Khanna, OP Mittal 
 Deptt. of Ophthalmology, Medical College, Amritsar, India

Correspondence Address:
K K Khanna
Deptt. of Ophthalmology, Medical College, Amritsar
India




How to cite this article:
Khanna K K, Mittal O P. Non-surgical treatment of chalazion.Indian J Ophthalmol 1981;29:83-85


How to cite this URL:
Khanna K K, Mittal O P. Non-surgical treatment of chalazion. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 1981 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];29:83-85
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?1981/29/2/83/30969


Full Text

Chalazion is one of the common and easily diagnosed condition of the lid. Although the disease is considered to be a chronic infla�mmatory lesion of Meibomian glands, the treatment of choice for this disease has been surgical evacuation of the chalazion material. Pizzarello et al[1] reported satisfactory results by intralesional injection of corticosteroids in the chalazia. This prompted us to take up this study of non surgical treatment of chalazion by corticosteroid injection.

 MATERIALS AND METHODS



20 Chalazia in 17 patients were treated in this study. In each case size and site were carefully noted. A vial of Triamcinolone Acetonide containing 40 mgm/ml was taken and diluted with normal saline to make a suspension of 5mgm/ml. 0.2 to 0.6 ml of this suspension was injected into the centre of the chalazion. In all cases injection was given from conjunctival side after giving surface anaesthesia with 4% xylocaine drops. Antibio�tic ointment was instilled and patient was sent home. The whole procedure did not take more than 3 minutes. No bandage was done. No systemic antibiotics was given. Each case was asked to report after 3 days, one week, one month and six months. On every visit the progress was noted. In cases where the chalazion did not resolve after a week's time, the injection was repeated.

 OBSERVATION



16 out of 20 cases got cured after one injection and 5 cases needed two injections of corticosteroid [Table 1]. No complication occured in any case. In 13 cases the chalazion resolved completely within three days while in 3 cases size decreased from original size gra�dually and disappeared within a week's time. [Figure 1]. In 4 cases swelling though smaller in size persisted on 2nd visit i.e, 7th day and the injection was repeated. In 3 out of such 4 repeat injection cases chalazion disappeared, one case did not turn up for examination. Recurrence occured in two cases, in one case after one month second case after six months.

 DISCUSSION



Chalazia are composed of chronic inflam�matory cells, viz histiocytes, multinucleated giant cells, lymphocytes, plasma cells, a few polymorphonuclear leucocytes and eosinophills. All these cells are sensitive to corticosteroids.

Leinfelder suggested the use of corticoste�roids in treating chalazion having acute or subacute inflammation in order to convert it into more compact and easily resectable nodule. He used 0.25 ml of methyl predni�solone acetate sub-conjunctivally around the chalazion and reported marked decrease in the size of the chalazion. The local injection of corticosteroid has the desirable effect of suppressing additional inflammatory cells and impending chronic fibrosis and scar formation. Pizzarello et al injected the steroids into the chalazion through skin side. While in present study the intra lesional injection is given transconjunctivally. The transconjunctival route is preferred because of two reasons ie. surface anaesthesia can be given and injection into the lesion is more accurate and easier.

Results suggest that intra lesional injection of corticosteroid cures chalazion. In majority of cases one injection is sufficient for complete resolution of the chalazion within a period of a weeks time. Injection can be repeated after a week in cases having residual swelling. Our results are in conformity with the other authors[1],(2).

Simplicity of the procedure, its dramatic results and non-surgical nature are the basic commendable features of this non surgical treatment of the chalazion.

References

1Pizzarello, Louis D. and Jakobiec, Frederick A. Hofeldi, Albert J. Podolsky Morris M. and Silvers David. N., 1978, Amer. J. Ophthalmol, 85 : 819.