Chalazion is a small sac containing fluid or it is a cyst on the inside of the eyelid. It is an inflammatory granuloma of a meibomian gland. This chalazion is otherwise called a meibomian cyst usually affecting the upper eye lid. When one of the meibomian gland ducts is obstructed or blocked chalazion appears. This gland is very important in keeping the eyes moist by its secretion of oily substance. The human eye lid is having several layers of tissues and chalazions are formed in one of these layers namely tarsal plate. An average human eye is having about 40 to 50 meibomian glands and ducts in each upper and lower eye lids.

Chalazion appears on the eyelids usually as an inflamed and hard sac which does not have any pain feeling even when touched. Normally, these sacs settle as a small lump and sometimes they grow larger in size and painful. Rarely, they got infected and inflamed and swell with pus. The ducts of these glands are obstructed by infection and other causes like internal small tumors like stye. Naturally the ducts break themselves and the oily substances are brought outside the cyst and chalazion disappears. But when this does not happen within a short time, chalazion becomes harder in their form and it does not go away spontaneously.
A smooth cloth with soaked in hot water will help in massaging the chalazion and by doing this the oily substances inside the chalazion becomes liquid and the ducts are cleared by this massage and the blockage opens easily. This results in disappearance of the chalazion. This is a simple treatment can be done at home itself.

An eye ointment containing antibacterial and tablets containing the same is very useful in treating this condition. Injections containing steroids is very effective in some cases by injecting the same directly into the cyst. The cyst will disappear with in few days but persistent chalazions are treated by surgery by cutting and opening the cyst to remove the cyst contents and this is very successful way to remove the chalazion.