Thymus – causes and treatment
Thymoma, or inflammation of the thyroid gland of the eyelid, called the Meibom’s gland, is a nodule that forms due to blockage of the mouth of this gland, which is located inside the eyelid. In appearance it resembles barley, but it is a completely different disease.
What function do Meibom’s glands have in the eye?
Meibom’s glands maintain the tightness of the eyelids just after the eyes are closed, and protect against moisture loss and breaches in the tear film. If they do not work properly, there is instability of the tear film, followed by irritation of the cornea, conjunctiva and eyelids. The risk of Dry Eye Syndrome is then very high.
For more information about the SO and Meibom’s glands.
Causes of clogging of Meibom’s gland outlets
Among the most common causes of clogged meibomian gland outlets are:
- excessive work of Meibom’s glands (e.g., in people who wear contact lenses)
- staphylococcal infection,
- Recurrent external barley that has not been properly treated,
- Seborrheic dermatitis,
- rosacea.
What a chalazion looks like
A chalazion takes the form of a small nodule with a gelatinous, purulent and bloody mass. It has a red-yellow color and is surrounded by a fibrous sac. It can appear both on the lower and upper eyelids. It is not as painful as barley, but due to its texture and location it causes comparable discomfort. It may be accompanied by swelling of the entire eyelid and redness of the conjunctiva.
Can chalazion be treated with home remedies?
A chalazion tends to heal on its own, meaning it can simply burst or absorb. If the inflammation is quite uncomfortable, you can treat it similarly to barley, meaning, for example, make yourself a poultice of chamomile, green tea or parsley.
Do not pierce the chalazion yourself! If the nodule does not want to burst on its own and is not going to absorb, you need to go to an ophthalmologist, who will prescribe antibiotic ointment, drops or oral medication. If necessary, the doctor will cut the skin in an outpatient setting and remove the chalazion with a special stick, so as not to allow the growth to reproduce. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and a dressing is placed over the eye.
Prevent instead of cure!
People who wear contact lenses for too long and neglect daily makeup removal are particularly prone to chalazion formation. It is not without reason that manufacturers precisely define the duration of lens wear – one-day lenses really should be thrown away after one day, and two-week lenses should be worn for no more than two weeks, even if no discomfort is experienced after this period (which is rather impossible due to high air pollution).
Thymoma can also be the result of untreated or incompletely treated barley. It is important to be aware that chalazion is an acute bacterial infection, which in the vast majority of cases is caused by a bacterium of the species Staphylococcus aureus ( staphylococcus aureus ) or Staphylococcus epidermidis (staphylococcus epidermidis ). If this infection is not cured completely, a complication in the form of chalazion may appear.
