Chalazion (Eyelid Cyst) Removal in London: Cost, Procedure and Recovery

What a Chalazion Is (and How It Differs From a Stye)

The eyelids contain rows of tiny oil glands (meibomian glands). When one becomes blocked, oil builds up behind it and
forms a chalazion: a firm, slowly growing lump in the body of the eyelid that is usually
painless. A stye is different: it is an acute, often painful, infected swelling, usually
right at the lash line. A chalazion can follow a stye, but it is not itself an infection, which is why antibiotics alone
do not usually clear it. The full comparison is in
eyelid cyst vs stye.

Glands block more easily in some people than others. Chalazia are more common in those with blepharitis
(chronic inflammation of the eyelid margins), rosacea, or naturally oily skin, and in anyone whose oil
glands are prone to clogging. They can also recur in the same person, which is why good day-to-day lid
hygiene matters even after one has been treated. Anyone can develop a chalazion, including children, and most are a
nuisance rather than a danger; the key is knowing when simple measures are enough and when a procedure is the better
route.

Will It Go Away on Its Own?

Often, yes. Many chalazia resolve over a few weeks with simple conservative care: warm compresses held
against the closed eyelid several times a day to soften the blocked oil, gentle massage, and good lid hygiene. This is
always worth trying first, and we generally recommend a few weeks of it before considering any procedure. More on this in
can eyelid cysts go away on their own?

When You Need It Removed

A chalazion is worth removing when it does not settle after several weeks of conservative care, when it
is large enough to be unsightly or to press on the eye and blur vision, or when it keeps
coming back in the same place. Removal is a small, quick procedure and gives a reliable result when
compresses have not worked. Whether surgery is the right step for you is confirmed at the consultation.

The Procedure: Incision and Drainage

Chalazion removal is an incision-and-drainage procedure, done as a same-day, walk-in walk-out treatment
under local anaesthetic by a consultant plastic surgeon. First, tetracaine anaesthetic eye
drops numb the surface (a brief stinging of about ten seconds), then a small amount of local anaesthetic
(2% lidocaine with adrenaline) is injected into the eyelid. The incision is usually made on the
inside (conjunctival) surface of the eyelid, so the blocked gland is cleared with no visible
scar on the outside and no stitches needed. Dissolvable stitches are only used in the rare case where the
incision has to be made through the outer eyelid skin. The whole thing takes only a few minutes once the eyelid is numb.

Afterwards, chloramphenicol antibiotic ointment is applied to the wound and a soft eye patch (jelonet
and gauze) is placed, which you remove yourself after 24 hours. The ointment can cause
temporary blurred vision for a short while after each application; this is expected and always clears
once you stop using it.

Recovery

Recovery is usually quick. Bruising and swelling of the eyelid are normal: the bruising peaks at about
48 hours, then gradually subsides over around five days. The eyelid skin is thin, so bruising can look
more dramatic than it is. Most people return to work and driving after about five days, and
contact lenses and eye make-up can be used again after two weeks, once the surface of the eyelid has
fully healed. Once the blocked gland is cleared the lump resolves and the eyelid returns to its normal shape; about
one in ten chalazia recur and need a further procedure.

Seek prompt help if you have increasing pain, swelling or spreading redness after the procedure: during
office hours call the clinic, and out of hours attend your local A&E. The temporary blurred vision from the antibiotic
ointment is expected and is not a cause for concern.

When a Recurrent Eyelid Lump Needs a Closer Look

The great majority of eyelid lumps are simple, harmless chalazia. However, a lump that keeps coming back in
exactly the same spot, or that looks unusual, occasionally needs to be examined more carefully and may be sent
for laboratory analysis, because a small number of persistent eyelid lesions can be something other than a chalazion.
A typical chalazion is not sent for histology, but we do send tissue for analysis in specific situations: a lump that has
recurred after two procedures, an atypical appearance with ulceration of the eyelid
skin, or a solid mass found at surgery rather than the usual thick fluid. Where histology is needed it is
£180. This is not a reason to worry about a typical chalazion; it is simply why a recurrent or atypical eyelid lump should
always be assessed by a specialist rather than drained again.

Cost

• Consultation: £100
• Chalazion (eyelid cyst) removal: £600 per eyelid
• A second chalazion or the other eyelid: a further £600 (it is a relatively complex procedure, so it is priced per chalazion and no discount applies)
• Histology, where needed: £180

You are given the full cost in writing at your consultation, before anything proceeds. More on pricing is in
cost of eyelid cyst removal.
Book a consultation.

Your Questions, Answered

Will I have a scar on my eyelid?

Usually not a visible one. The incision is normally made on the inside of the eyelid, so the chalazion is cleared without a scar on the outer skin.

Is chalazion removal painful?

No. The eyelid is fully numbed with local anaesthetic, so you feel only a brief sting from the injection and nothing during the few minutes of the procedure.

Should I try warm compresses first?

Yes. Many chalazia settle over a few weeks with warm compresses, gentle massage and lid hygiene, and this is worth trying before surgery. A procedure is for chalazia that do not settle or keep coming back.

Is a chalazion the same as a stye?

No. A stye is an acute, painful, infected swelling at the lash line, while a chalazion is a firmer, usually painless lump from a blocked oil gland deeper in the eyelid. A chalazion is not an infection, so antibiotics alone do not usually clear it.

How much does chalazion removal cost?

At London Skin Clinic it is £600 per eyelid, after a £100 consultation. A second chalazion or the other eyelid is a further £600, as it is a relatively complex procedure priced per chalazion. Histology, where needed, is £180.

When can I drive, wear make-up and use contact lenses again?

Most people return to work and driving after about five days, once the bruising has begun to settle. Eye make-up and contact lenses can be used again after two weeks, when the surface of the eyelid has fully healed.

Do chalazia come back after removal?

Most do not, but about one in ten recur and need a further procedure. Good day-to-day lid hygiene, and managing any underlying blepharitis or rosacea, helps reduce the chance.