Font Size
A
A
A

Chalazion (Lump in Eyelid) (cont.)

Chalazion Causes

Each of the oil glands, called Meibomian glands, produces oil which flows out of the gland into the tears. The oil exits from each gland through a tiny opening just behind the eyelashes of the upper and lower lids. A chalazion is caused by the oil in the gland becoming too thick to flow out of the gland or the opening of the gland being obstructed. Without anywhere to go, the oil builds up inside the gland and forms a lump in the eyelid. The gland wall may break, releasing the oil into the tissue of the eyelid, causing inflammation and sometimes scar tissue.



Next: Chalazion Symptoms »

Printer-Friendly Format  |  Email to a Friend

WebMD Daily

Get breaking medical news.

Are You Depressed? Take the Quiz


Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine

Chalazion »

A chalazion (Greek for hailstone) is a lipogranuloma of either a meibomian gland or a Zeis gland.

Read More on eMedicine »

Medical Dictionary