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Medical Author:

Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACS

Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACS

Andrew A. Dahl, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. Dr. Dahl's educational background includes a BA with Honors and Distinction from Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, and an MD from Cornell University, where he was selected for Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. He had an internal medical internship at the New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center.

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Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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Treatment of the chalazion may include the following:

• Application of warm compresses for five to 10 minutes, four times a day, to reduce swelling and promote drainage of the gland



• A prescription for antibiotic eyedrops or ointments if a bacterial infection is suspected to be present



• Injection of a steroid medicine in the area of the lump to help decrease the inflammation



• If a chalazion creates significant symptoms or lasts for weeks, it may need to be surgically removed. If the swelling has lasted more than a few weeks or creates symptoms of mild blurring of the vision, your ophthalmologist may recommend surgery to remove the chalazion. If the appearance of the chalazion bothers you, surgical removal may also be indicated.

If you have multiple chalazia or recurrent chalazia, a generalized abnormality in the oil glands should be considered. One such condition is acne rosacea. This can be treated with long-term oral tetracycline (Ala-Tet, Sumycin, Doxycycline) to alter the consistency of the oils produced by the glands. The use of warm compresses prior to sleep and cleaning the lid margins with baby shampoo can also decrease the chance of getting chalazia in the future.

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