When chalazion require surgery? Please help. (photos)

Question

My daughter 14 years old start to have a stye Aug. 3 after a couple days it was almost gone .On August 11 start again on both eyes. The doctor give her oral antibiotic Dicloxacillin 500 mg 4/day for 10 days and ciprofloxacin eye drops.7 days later doctor give cephalexin 250 mg 4/day for 7 days,got better but not totally.Sep.11 a specialist and give her Tobradex and Baciatrin ointment.She is schedule for surgery on Sept.17 with a total anesthesia.I don't know is I should wait another week.HELP

James R. Gordon, MD, FACS, FAAO · Answer

Thank you for sharing your concerns. Unfortunately, styes frequently reform after the seem to resolve. There is no reason to put your daughter through surgery with general anesthesia at this point. Kenelog should be injected into the lesion and it should resolve. Whether it disappears with the injection or incision and drainage it could still return in the future. Daily eyelid washing and warm compresses can help keep it at bay. Good luck.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Especially on the lid margin, I personally think that surgery should be a last resort.  Almost all of these lesions can be treated with a steroid injection with Kenalog.  In the past 20 years, I have not had a single stye that did not respond to this treatment.  Unfortuately surgeons make much more money doing surgery.  In my opinion your daughter is being over treated for these.  I am concerned that her eyelids will be permanently scared by surgery she does not need.

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

It probably should be drained since the stye/chalazion has been there for this amount of time. (FYI Chalazion refers to a nonresolving stye.)

Chris Thiagarajah, MD · Answer

If a chalazion is not gone after warm compresses in 1 month it generally needs to be excised. In short, antibiotics don't help chalazion because it is not an infection.  I have a website dedicated to chalazion and styes called denverstye.com. You can read about treatment, when to have surgery etc..- Dr T

When chalazion require surgery? Please help. (photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Chalazion

Answer: Chalazion

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Eyelid Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

When chalazion require surgery? Please help. (photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Chalazion

Answer: Chalazion

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Eyelid Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.