What are lumps and bumps on the lids?
Lumps and bumps are very common on the eyelids. Most are entirely benign but can grow. Occasionally a lump can turn out to be a new, cancerous growth, which may require complete clearance.
What is the treatment?
Sometimes, the lump can be treated with conservative measures such as hot compresses and massage (if it is an early chalazion or stye). Sometimes, if the diagnosis is not clear, a small biopsy under a little local anaesthetic can be performed. Otherwise the lump can be removed in its entirety under local anaesthetic. A simple clinic procedure is usually all that is needed.
What else could it be?
A chalazion or any lump could resemble other benign or malignant lid lumps. Mr Das-Bhaumik will take a full history and perform a thorough examination before operating. He is careful to ensure that tumours are not missed.
Pre-operative Instructions
Patients are asked to refrain from taking any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, for a week prior to surgery.
Please inform Mr Das-Bhaumik if you are on medication that thins the blood, e.g. aspirin, apixaban, clopidogrel, aspirin and warfarin as he will have to change the composition of local anaesthetic to compensate for these or reduce the medication if your GP deems it safe to do so. Please also refrain from alcohol consumption 2 days either side of surgery.
The day of surgery
The following is advised:
- Bring in all your current medication and take them as usual unless otherwise advised
- Wash the face to remove makeup to reduce your chance of an infection
- Dress in comfortable clothes
- Remove your contact lenses
- Remove all metallic items including piercings and hair metallic hair extension clips if possible
Performing Safer Surgery
Several steps are taken to ensure surgery is as safe as possible.
- You will not be listed for surgery if surgery is not deemed to be safe. It may need to be postponed if there are modifiable factors.
- Ensuring you are in good health, with no current infection, refraining from NSAID medication for a week and refraining from alcohol 2 days either side of surgery will reduce the chances of infection, bleeding and bruising.
- The choice of local anaesthetic use reduces the chances of bleeding and bruising by titrating the amount of adrenaline used in the mixture to suit each patients’ individual need.
- Mr Das-Bhaumik is also highly trained as a micro-surgeon and surgical trainer, and performs all surgery under high magnification to enhance the accuracy of the surgery and to stem and signs of bleeding before a bleed occurs.
- Mr Das-Bhaumik uses a protective contact lenses to both protect the eyes and to make the experience far more comfortable if they are required.
- Antibiotic ointment and soothing jelly gauze are placed on the eye at the end of the procedure reducing the chance of scratches to the surface of the eye from the eyepad.
- A soft eyepad placed is firmly at the end of the procedure reduces postoperative swelling and bruising.
Contact Details
Complications and problems after chalazion removal are very rare and as eye surgeons, we are very careful to avoid them. We like you to be fully aware of these before undergoing surgery.
Contact Mr Das-Bhaumik’s team immediately on 07887 387 000 or 020 7127 8100 if excessive swelling, bruising, discomfort occurs or a discharge is seen. Alternatively, Moorfields has a 24 hour A&E where he is an emergency consultant, and they know to contact Mr Das-Bhaumik if any of his patients attend.