Chalazion

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Causes

Signs/Symptoms

Care

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• To avoid spreading any possible infection, don't touch the chalazion and wash your hands often, drying them with a clean towel.
• If the chalazion is infected:
  • Apply a warm, clean washcloth to the eyelid several times a day for 10 to 20 minutes to help ease pain and bring pus to the surface.
  • Return to your doctor to have the pus removed.
  • Do NOT try to remove the pus yourself by squeezing the chalazion or sticking it with a pin or needle.
• If the chalazion is not infected, applying a warm, clean washcloth will still ease discomfort and speed healing.
• You may use non-prescription medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce the swelling and ease the pain.

Call Your Doctor If...

• Your eye becomes painful or your vision changes.
• A head of pus does not develop on an infected chalazion after 2 days of applying warm compresses.
• The chalazion becomes painful, red, or swollen; grows larger; or does not start to disappear after 2 weeks.