How to help children reduce the recurrence of chalazion

       Chalazion is a common pediatric ophthalmologic condition that is caused by chronic inflammatory granuloma of the lid gland due to retention of secretions in the ducts that drain the lid gland. For small, first-episode chalazia, treatment can be attempted with local heat and local medications. For larger chalazia, surgery should be considered as soon as possible if medication is not effective. Chalazion is a minor problem, but many children are prone to recurrent attacks, which often troubles parents. For children with recurrent or multiple chalazia, a follow-up visit to the ophthalmologist should be made 1-2 months after surgery to watch for recurrence and try to resolve it at the conjunctival surface stage to reduce the possibility of skin breakdown requiring general anesthesia surgery.       Parents should urge their children to pay attention to eye hygiene, avoid prolonged eye strain, and not rub their eyes with their hands. Regular eyelid massage should be done to squeeze and remove any obstructive secretions from the eyelid gland to reduce the obstruction.       Parents should first correct their children’s bad habits by eating more vegetables and fruits, less sweets, and no greasy, fried, or fire-prone foods. According to Chinese medicine, most chalazia is related to damp heat in the spleen and stomach, liver and stomach disharmony or phlegm and dampness accumulation in spleen deficiency. Children with this type of eye disease often have symptoms related to partial eating, irritability, loss of appetite, thick tongue coating, constipated or loose stools, etc. Chinese medicine practitioners can treat the whole body of the child by identifying the symptoms and by harmonizing the stomach and eliminating stagnation, strengthening the spleen and resolving phlegm and dampness.