Chalazion: UK treatment options and when minor surgery is needed

A chalazion is a painless, rubbery lump in the eyelid caused by a chronically blocked meibomian gland. Unlike a stye, it is not primarily infected — it is a sterile granuloma. Most respond to warm compresses over 4–6 weeks; the rest need a minor procedure called incision and curettage.

Stye vs chalazion

A **stye** is acute, tender, red and pus-filled. A **chalazion** is chronic, firm, usually painless and slow to change. Many chalazia begin life as a stye that failed to drain.

First-line treatment

For any lump less than 4–6 weeks old, conservative treatment is the right first step:

- Warm compresses for 10 minutes, four times a day

- Gentle vertical lid massage over the lump after warming

- Daily lid hygiene to reduce the meibomian blockage that started it

- No antibiotics — they do not clear a chalazion

About 50% of chalazia resolve in 4–8 weeks with this routine.

When to consider a procedure

Ask for review by an ophthalmologist if:

- The lump has been present for more than six weeks despite proper conservative care

- It is large enough to press on the cornea and blur vision (astigmatism from lid pressure)

- It is cosmetically bothersome

- It keeps recurring in the same spot — biopsy is occasionally indicated to rule out rare eyelid tumours

Incision and curettage

The definitive treatment is a 15-minute in-office procedure under local anaesthetic:

1. Anaesthetic drops, then a small injection into the lid

2. A clamp everts the lid so the surgeon works from inside — no visible scar

3. A small vertical incision is made in the tarsal plate and the chalazion contents are scraped out

4. An eye pad is worn for a few hours; bruising settles over a week

Recurrence at the same site is under 10% in experienced hands.

Steroid injection — an alternative

Small chalazia in cosmetically sensitive positions can be shrunk with a low-dose triamcinolone injection. Two-thirds resolve; the main downside is a small risk of skin depigmentation, so injection is used with caution in darker skin types.

NHS vs private treatment

NHS waiting times for chalazion surgery are often 6–12 months. Private incision and curettage is available same-week and typically costs £450–£750 per lid.

Book a consultant-led chalazion assessment

For persistent lid lumps, book a consultation with my private practice or call **020 3137 3237**. Same-week assessment and treatment across our UK clinics.