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General Ophthalmology Chalazion and Stye The eyelids contain numerous glands some of which provide a fatty layer on the surface of the tear film. The opening of these glands may become blocked leading to a build up of secretions until a cyst is formed. This cyst is called a chalazion and can lead to a round usually painless swelling of the lid. Most often these will only shrink over many months and it is best to go forward to a small surgical procedure to drain the cyst. This can be done under local anaesthetic and takes a few minutes to perform. The cyst is opened and the mucous contents removed by curretage. In a few days the swelling subsides. Stye This is a painful swelling of the eyelids caused by infection of the glands of the lid. It is usually treated by antibiotic ointment and hot spoon bathing. Hot spoon bathing. Heat a wooden spoon in warm water. Remove the spoon and wrap it in cotton wool. Make sure the spoon is warm but not too hot to cause injury and place it on the stye for a few minutes at a time. This helps to allow the stye to discharge and then go away. To prevent recurrence lid hygiene can be used. Lid Hygiene. In order to help the glands of the eyelids secrete and therefore avoid blepharitis or the formation of styes or chalazia, massage of the lids is useful. Using a cotton bud on the outside of the eyelid the lids can be massaged upwards for the lower lids and downwards for the upper lids. In addition flaky deposits on the edge of the eyelids can be removed by the use of dilute baby shampoo on the cotton bud. Use antidandruff shampoo when washing your hair this may also help. Conjunctivitis This is inflammation of the eye leading to a red eye with watering or stickiness or discharge. This may be Allergic Bacterial. Viral Other infections These can usually be treated with drops once an ophthalmologist ahs determined the type of conjunctivitis. If you have an infection of the conjunctiva please avoid sharing towels with other individuals and wash your hand to try to pervent spread of the infection. Blepharitis
Dry Eye As we age the tears may become less effective and artificial tears may need to be used to keep the eye moist. Dry eyes cause irritation and rare severe forms can damage the surface of the eye. Central Serous Retinopathy (CSR) This is a condition, which usually presents with a slight reduction in the central vision in young adults, more often in men than in women. The vision reduces for a few weeks and usually returns to near normal after a month or two, but sometimes with a small permanent deficit. The reason it occurs is unclear, although a weak connection has been suggested with steroid. A fluorescein angiogram or and optical coherence tomogram may aid the diagnosis. Usually no treatment is given and the eye recovers spontaneously.
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The eyelids contain numerous glands some of which provide a fatty layer on the surface of the tear film. These glands can become inflamed or infected. This causes irritation of the eye because the tear film then does not have a good fatty layer and evaporates too quickly. Sometimes the condition is there because the patient has a mild skin condition called acne rosacea. In addition to lid hygiene sometimes antibiotic tablets are helpful to improve the lids and the skin condition.
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