UPPER AND LOWER EYELIDS AFFECTION

A chalazion is a nonneoplastic enlargement of the meibomian gland caused by blockage of its duct and inspissation of its secretory products.

Fig.33: Chalazion of one of the meibomian gland of the upper eyelid in a dog.

Symptoms

1.     Localized painless swelling, yellow-white in color when viewed through the palpebral conjunctiva. The size of the swelling varies between pea-like swellings in dogs to hazel-nut in horses.

2.     if the gland ruptures, lipid-laden sebaceous material escapes into the eyelid stroma and causes a lipogranuloma that may become quite inflamed.

3.     Chalazion is few millimeters from the lid margin.

4.     Chalazion bulges the skin over it but still the skin is freely movable.

5.     The conjunctiva over the chalazion is reddened and elevated.

6.     The contents are usually cheesy inspissated oily secretion.

Treatment

·   Chalazion clamp is applied to the eyelid and then everted.

·  Incision is made through the conjunctiva over the swelling.

·  The contents are squeezed and the wall of the chalazion is thoroughly curetted.

·   The clamp is removed and antibiotic ointment is applied for several days.