Hi,
Just wondered if anyone had ever had a surgical procedure to resolve an eye cyst that isn't budging with the usual heat, massage and clean treatment? I've had a persistent eye cyst (or whatever the technical name for it is) for 2 months now and this is the main symptom of my blepharitis - it just won't go! Any suggestions would be great :-)
Thanks!
Hi I am an ophthalmologist and I often remove lid cysts it they are troublesome by a procedure called "incision & curettage". This entails a tiny anaesthetic injection, a nick on the underneath of the affected eyelid and then a very tiny spoon to empty the lump). It takes under 10 minutes. However many cysts go away by themselves after a few months either naturally or with the help of heat and massage.
I would especially recommend the surgical procedure if the lump is the size of a small pea or bigger and causing cosmetic embarassment or blurred vision. If you have lots of little lumps or if the lump is on the edge next to your lashes then surgery is best avoided.
People with blepharitis or rosacea are more likely to develop lid cysts. Other names for these benign lumps include chalazion or Meibomian cyst.
Hi, thanks for the useful information.
The lump doesn't cause any cosmetic embarassment or blurred vision as it's not very big but it's not showing any signs of dissipating and seems to be the only reason I am getting discomfort with my blepharitis. I do get one or two small white nodules forming on other parts of my eyelids but these aren't causing discomfort/soreness. I recently started using the cooled boiled water + bicarbonate of soda cleaning method and this has been helping a lot. It's just this one lump flaring up a few times a week. I've never tried the antibiotic route of treatment and don't want to unless completely necessary, but I was thinking of trying the antibiotic gel that I've heard you can get on prescription. Is this something which may help with this lump or is it only the case that heat and massage or incision and curettage would help?
Thanks very much!!
Hi Adrian, Antibiotic gels are not going to help meibomian cysts. Regular cleaning is your best bet to lessen discomfort. There are some other types of lid cysts perhaps the small white ones on the lid margin. I sometimes use laser on them. You may have to seek a consultation.
Hi Robert, thanks very much for your help. I'll persist with the regular heat and clean method then ;-)
I had a large, hard cyst in my upper lid for over 2 years. I was recommended to have it removed but kept putting the procedure off in the hopes that the cyst would disperse, despite being told by consultants and the prospective surgeon that this would never happen. I saw the operation on YouTube (I know - silly me!) & decided that, despite my eye looking hideous, I just couldn't go through with the op.
In the meantime, I was still being treated for blepharitis and dry-eye syndrome. I was given the antibiotic Doxycycline. Well, believe it or not, the cyst disappeared whilst I was taking this antibiotic. My eye lid remains slightly more swollen than the other one but the cyst has completely gone.
Doxycycline is good for rosacea blepharitis (posterior blepharitis) but the antibiotic has to be taken for many months by mouth and of course is treating the WHOLE BODY: a bit like using a hammer to crack a nut. Another relevant issue is that we know from "superbugs" that long term treatment with antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria developing e.g. in your gut.
The fact is an average meibomian cyst will last a few months (anything from 2 months to 2 years). Children can get them too. Can you imagine putting a 10 year child through minor surgery under local anaesthetic? Really it would be cruel and impossible without major restraint so a general anaesthetic is required. But then general anaesthetics are more dangerous than a little local anaethetic injection. The result is we don't generally recommend surgery at all for these benign cysts in children knowing there is a high chance they will disappear spontaneously eventually just as you have found. I expect you would have found the op OK if you had taken the plunge and so got rid of the lump more quickly. For anyone really anxious or terrrified a sedative tablet - perhaps from your GP prior to the procedure could help. Otherwise just wait it out...
I've actually just spoken to my ophthalmologist regarding the surgery and he said he only recommends it as a last step because one of the issues is that the gland which is operated on will effectively be dead once the procedure is done. Furthermore, he said that the operation can actually result in the residue from the cyst contaminating other glands which then develop cysts. I'm guessing that is why you previously said "if you have lots of little lumps or if the lump is on the edge next to your lashes then surgery is best avoided" Robert?! In any case, I think I will just perservere with the lump in the hope it will disappear sooner rather than later :-)
Seems like you have a condition called Meibomianitis which is a blockage of the openings of the Meibomian glands rather than a big cyst. In this case heat and massage are best to squeeze out the waxy secretions.
Each lid has around 50 glands and the openings are all in a row just behind the lashes. It is not true that surgery will stop the gland from working because it was blocked and out of order anyway. Even if the cyst goes spontaneously that is only becase the gland has stopped producing and the tissues have cleared up the residual secretions. Surgery only hastens the natural process - the gland won't work again but there are plenty of others. Remember even if you have surgery the general advice about heat and massage remains because there are another 49 glands which could get blocked in the future in each eyelid.
The reason we don't operate on the edge of the lid is it will result in a permanent visible notch on the lid margin and in the case of the lower lid tears could constantly spill over resulting in lots of troublesome watering.
Mine is not completely gone and it has been 6 months.
I would love for this to have gone away in 3 weeks, like most Americans I want it gone yesterday.
I would not get an operation unless it is very visible and/or makes you hate to show your face in public.
Not all eye doctors are good eye doctors, and you only have 2 eyes and need both.
1st check with your family physican if they know a great eye surgeon <*or*> if they know the one you want to use AND if you primary doctor agrees you should have the surgery, because if anything goes wrong your primary doctor will be treating you for the problem.
2nd check that the eye doctor has not been sued and lost.
You can check court documents online.
3rd ask the AMA (Amerian Medical Association) about the eye doctor.
Where did he go to school, what experience does he have, etc.
4th ask the doctor for 3 patient recommendations.
If he can't or won't give them to you to contact, find another doctor.
5th, BEFORE undergoing surgery, make sure you have medical coverage if the surgery turns out bad.
You may need hospitalization or further surgery.
Sorry, but I have had too many bad doctors.
I used to think they knew what they were doing, no more.
Ask questions, ask more questions, ask others for even more questions, then make an imformed decision.
I would wait at least a year to see if it clears up.
Take a picture so you can compare it to what it was like.
You may not see a difference, but a picture does not look at your face every day.
You may see a difference.
Sorry, to know you still have a problem.
I wish the eye doctor had told me how long it would take.
I was very worried when it did not resolve in 3 weeks.
Hot steamy baths ( VERY, VERY, VERY HOT WATER ) of more an hour ( more than 60 minutes ), may help more than the whole wash and scrb routine.
It causes your pores to open and it seemed to help mine clear up.
It also gave me soft skin, shinny hair and a lot of relaxiation.
Normally you wash your face after steaming for at least 20 minutes.
You may have to refill the tub several times to keep it this hot.
After the bath, rinse your face with cold water followed by an astringent ( pore closer / minimizer), that is sold in a department store. ( Clinic makes a good, hypoallergenic, astringent), you DO NOT use this around your eyes.
* I read that someone had used vitamin C on them. *
This should dissolve the plug in the pore
by helping to remove old skin tissue,
that might be keeping the pore from draining properly.
Vitamin C is used in acne medicine too.
*** However vitamin C is an acid, and I was not desperate enough to try this. ***
Hi Robert, thanks for the information. All makes sense to me now! Having considered the information you've provided I don't think the lump I have warrants operation - as you say, heat and massage is probably my best bet. Last few days I've felt great, but then just within the last few hours my eyes have gone back to being the normal sore eyes that I'm used to! haha! I'll just continue with the maintenance but thanks very much for your assistance ;-)
Hey, thanks for the info, all very helpful. I think I'll stay clear of the operation for now and continue with the maintenance techniques. I'm interested about the vit C treatment you mentioned though, so will have a look into that!
Hi adrian379
I have had the procedure on my lower eye lid a few years ago as it was irritating and making my eye red and sore, it would flare up every few weeks, and it was unsightly to say the least. It was the best thing I ever did I have a tiny mark ( no one can see it ) apart from me when I put mascara on. But I could not wear mascara for a lot of years as it would make my eye much worse than it was ie: red sore and itchy also watery. It was a quick operation more uncomfortable than anything. I used to do the cleaning of my eyes sometimes up to 5 times a day then I found this site and I read some posts off Lynda79 about wet ones and to be honest I have never looked back I use them or Optrex eye wash only about twice a day if that, so what ever you choose I hope you find something that eases your eyes as I know it can drive you mad😫
Hi jeanette43594, thanks for your message. I still have the small lump, which has been there for about 2 months now. Like you said, it flairs up every few weeks - it's only really this that is giving me discomfort now. I've managed to control my bleph using bicarbonate of soda - to the extent that my eyes feel about 80-90% normal, which is great. I've heard a lot about the wetones, but it seems from what I've read that they're more for problems with the external part of the lid; whereas my problem is the lid margin - I guess I'm just weary about making it more sore!
Hi adrians379
Mine was on the lid that is why I could not wear mascara for a lot of years, but now with using the wet ones it is I would say they are 95% better and I can wear mascara again. I still have days where they are sore but there again that is my fault as some times when they are okay I don't do them with the wetones or the Optrex eye wash then they are just a bit red again, what i
would suggest is you read Lynda79s threads if you think you might try it. There is a list she has if you are allergic to certain things not to use them, so do look it up first, I know what you mean as I was the same but I would have tried anything to stop the itch and redness, I use the wetones in the light blue packet ( sensitive) ones. well good luck with what ever you choose
Jeanette by the way when you use bicarbonate- soda what do you do withit
Hi Jeanette,
Thanks for this. I will give Lynda's thread a good read then ;-)
I put a quarter of a teaspoon of bicarb of soda into an egg cup full of cool boiled water. After using the heat bag I dip a cotton wool bud into the solution and carefully rub it along both lids of both eyes. It's made a huge difference for me :-) so if you haven't tried it then it's definitely worth a go!
Adrian
Hi adrians379
I will give it a try to see if it helps more than the wet ones. It might be worth while reading the threads and also to give her a txt she will be more than
happy to explain things to you. I must admit I am pleased to call her a friend. I hope you find the thread useful as I did I came across this thread by accident and I am so happy I did.
Jeanette 😊