Abstract
Purpose :
Chalazion is a noninfectious chronic granulomatous inflammatory lesion due to retention of lipid secretions from the meibomian glands (MGs). Traditionally, the “cutting” treatment for a persistent chalazion by incision and curettage has been the mainstay of treatment. Previous studies have shown that the resolution rate of surgery was 60-90% from 4 days to 3 weeks. Chalazion surgery in younger children may be performed without anesthesia or under general anesthesia. Recently, the non-surgical treatment of chalazion has been re-evaluated from the perspective of preserving the morphology and function of MGs. We have been actively doing the MG preserving treatment for chalazion for the past 7 years. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical course of the non-surgical MG preserving treatment for chalazion in children.
Methods :
Retrospective chart review of patients with chalazion under 18 years of age who visited a private clinic between August 2020 and July 2023.
Results :
Of the 295 patients with chalazion, 78 were under 18 years old (31 males, 47 females, mean age of 5.3 ± 4.3 years (range 4 months to 18 years)). 64% were under 5 years old. They visited the clinic 0 days to 1 year (median 12 days) after the onset of chalazion. At the first visit, 1.2 ± 0.5 (1-4) chalazia were found on 1.1 ± 0.4 eyelids. 28 patients had a history of chalazion, two of chalazion surgery, and 19 had multiple chalazia. Chalazia of 26 patients were self-destructive. Shortening and dropout of MGs at the site of chalazion was observed in all 4 cases who were able to be examined, and corneal epithelial damage was seen in 1 of 9 cases. Patients underwent the following treatments: warming eyelids (73%), lid hygiene (76%), topical antibiotic and/or steroid (78%), intralesional steroid injection (1%). 4 patients (5%) underwent surgery. 36% had only one visit. During the mean observation period of 5.5 ± 7.6 months, chalazion developed at a new site in 17 cases, and recurrence at the same site was observed in 3 cases. In patients who visited the clinic two or more times, 88% of patients with chalazia that were present at the first visit and 71% of patients with multiple recurrent chalazia were cured or improved with non-surgical treatment.
Conclusions :
Non-surgical MG preserving treatment for chalazia was effective in children. It is important to cure chalazion and prevent recurrence to minimize loss of MGs.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.