Chalazion in Medellín
An eyelid bump usually goes away with home care; if it does not, it is removed with a short procedure
A chalazion is a small lump in the eyelid that appears when an oil gland gets blocked. It is not the same as a stye, which is an infection and hurts. Most chalazia go away in about a month with warm compresses; when one keeps growing, the ophthalmologist removes it through a tiny incision or injects it. MDE Care is not a clinic: we arrange your consultation and, if needed, the procedure with ophthalmologists in Medellín.
Outpatient
you go home the same day
Chalazion or stye? What to do about your eyelid bump
Answer seven questions about the bump. We show you what it looks like, what to do now and how much the next step costs.
1Does it hurt when you touch it?
2Did it appear suddenly and red?
3How long have you had it?
4Have you tried warm compresses?
5Does it keep coming back, or do you have several?
6Does it affect your vision or is it very large?
7Has it changed in appearance, does it bleed or not heal?
Sounds like a recent chalazion
Points to a chalazion: a blocked gland
A recent bump that hurts little is usually a chalazion that clears up at home. Most go away in about a month.
What to do now
- Warm compresses for 10 to 15 minutes, several times a day
- Gentle massage and eyelid hygiene
- See a doctor if it is not gone in a month or keeps growing
What the specialist checks
- Eyelid exam, outside and inside
- Eyelid margins and lashes, in case of blepharitis
Do not squeeze or pop the bump. The specialist decides whether you need any medication.
Ophthalmologist consultation, estimated price
COP 240,000to COP 480,000
Only if it does not improve with home care.
* Estimated prices, confirmed at your assessment. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
How much does chalazion removal cost in Medellín?
Build your case: the consultation, removal or injection, and how many chalazia need treatment. We show you the estimated total in Colombian pesos or US dollars.
First, the consultation
The ophthalmologist examines the eyelid outside and inside, confirms whether it is a chalazion or a stye, and decides whether home care is enough, an injection makes sense or it needs to be removed.
What is included
- Consultation and eyelid exam with the ophthalmologist
- Care plan: home care, injection or removal
- Follow-up visits, some remote when the specialist considers it safe
What changes the price
- Whether home care is enough or a procedure is needed
- Whether it is done in the office or in the operating room
- How many chalazia and on how many eyelids
- The clinic and the specialist assigned
1. Ophthalmologist consultation
2. Treatment
3. Where the removal is done
Applies if you choose removal. The specialist decides where it is done based on the size and location of the chalazion.
4. How many chalazia need treatment?
5. Optional
Estimated total
COP 240,000to COP 480,000
Ophthalmologist consultation
Breakdown
- Ophthalmologist consultationCOP 240,000 to COP 480,000
* Estimated prices, confirmed at your assessment. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
What is a chalazion?
A chalazion is a small lump in the eyelid caused by a blocked oil gland. These glands are called meibomian glands and sit in the eyelid, just behind the lashes.
When the gland gets blocked, the oil is trapped and the eyelid reacts with inflammation that forms the lump. At first it usually does not hurt, although it can become tender as it grows. It often appears after an internal stye.
Most go away in about a month with warm compresses. If it keeps growing, the ophthalmologist removes it or injects it. If you also feel burning or grittiness, you may have dry eye caused by the same glands.
A blocked gland
It is not an infection: it is oil that cannot get out of the gland.
It often goes away on its own
With warm compresses, most disappear in about a month.
It can come back
Even after it heals it can return, especially with blepharitis.
Chalazion vs. stye: how they differ
Both are eyelid bumps and one can lead to the other, but they do not behave the same way.
Chalazion
- Pain: usually painless, or only slightly painful.
- Cause: a blocked meibomian gland, not an infection.
- Location: further back in the eyelid, away from the margin.
- How it appears: grows slowly and rarely swells the whole eyelid.
- If it does not go away: injection or removal through a tiny incision.
Stye
- Pain: very painful.
- Cause: a bacterial infection.
- Location: on the eyelid margin. An external stye starts at the root of a lash; an internal stye, in a gland of the eyelid.
- How it appears: suddenly, red, and often swells the whole eyelid.
- If it does not improve: the ophthalmologist may prescribe medication or drain it.
Chalazion causes and risk factors
It all starts in the eyelid glands. These conditions make them clog more easily.
What to do at home for a chalazion
It is the first step for almost every chalazion and it also helps with a stye.
Warm compresses
A clean, warm compress on the eyelid for 10 to 15 minutes, several times a day. The heat softens the oil so the gland can unblock.
Gentle massage
After the compress, a gentle massage over the area helps the contents drain.
Do not squeeze or pop it
Squeezing the bump can make the inflammation worse. If it needs to come out, let the specialist do it.
Eyelid hygiene, no makeup
Clean the eyelid margin along the lashes and avoid makeup and contact lenses in that area while the bump lasts.
When to see an ophthalmologist
Most eyelid bumps are benign. These situations are worth having the specialist check.
How a chalazion is removed
When compresses are not enough, there are two paths. The specialist chooses based on the size, the location and your skin.
Home care
Warm compresses, gentle massage and eyelid hygiene. This is what resolves most cases.
Consultation COP 240,000 to COP 480,000
Chalazion injection
A steroid is injected into the bump to reduce the inflammation. It can change the skin color in the area, so the specialist assesses whether it is a good option for you.
Quoted at your assessment
Removal (incision and curettage)
Under local anesthesia, only the eyelid is numbed and you stay awake. A tiny incision is usually made on the inside of the eyelid, with no scar on the skin, and the contents are removed. It is outpatient: you go home the same day.
COP 300,000 to COP 800,000 in the office
How long does the procedure take?
It is a short procedure. The exact duration, whether it is done in the office or in the operating room, and the aftercare are decided by the specialist based on your case. If the bump keeps coming back in the same spot or looks different, the tissue may be sent for testing (biopsy).
Estimated prices, confirmed at your assessment.
Recovery after chalazion removal
Home the same day
No hospital stay needed.
Temporary swelling
There may be some swelling or a bruise that fades in a few days. The specialist tells you how to care for it.
Remote follow-up
Follow-up visits can be done remotely when the specialist considers it safe.
What changes and what does not
The bump goes away
With compresses in most cases, or with injection or removal when it does not go away on its own.
It can come back
Removing a chalazion does not stop another from appearing, on the same eyelid or another one.
Treating blepharitis helps
Daily warm compresses and cleaning the eyelid margin help prevent new chalazia and styes.
What may remain
Sometimes a few lashes are lost or a small notch remains on the eyelid margin.
Chalazion at a glance
| First steps | Warm compresses for 10 to 15 minutes, several times a day |
|---|---|
| How long it takes to go away | Most, about a month |
| Ophthalmologist consultation | COP 240,000 to COP 480,000, estimate |
| Removal | COP 300,000 to COP 800,000 in the office; COP 750,000 to COP 2,100,000 per eyelid in the operating room |
| Anesthesia | Local: only the eyelid is numbed |
| Hospital stay | No. You go home the same day |
| Follow-up | Can be done remotely when the specialist considers it safe |
Why arrange your chalazion consultation with MDE Care
We are not a clinic: we are your coordination team. We connect you with ophthalmologists and accredited clinics in Medellín.
An eyelid specialist
We take you to an ophthalmologist who can tell a chalazion apart from a stye and other eyelid bumps.
A clear price before you go
You know what the consultation costs and, if needed, the removal.
Coordination from start to finish
Consultation, procedure, follow-up and, if you travel, the logistics of your stay in Medellín.
Organizations that support our work
How we coordinate your chalazion treatment
Guided support from your first message to your follow-up visits.
Tell us about your case
Message us on WhatsApp with your self-check result or a photo of the bump.
Consultation
The ophthalmologist examines the eyelid and confirms what it is.
Plan
Home care, injection or removal, depending on your case.
Procedure
If needed, outpatient and under local anesthesia.
Follow-up
In person and remote when the specialist considers it safe.
Common questions about chalazion
What is a chalazion?
What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion?
How is a chalazion removed?
Does a chalazion go away on its own?
How much does chalazion removal cost in Medellín?
Does chalazion surgery hurt?
Do antibiotics work for a chalazion?
Can it come back?
Has the bump lasted more than a month?
Tell us what it looks like and we will help you book a consultation with the ophthalmologist.
Other ophthalmology procedures
Want a specialist to check your chalazion?
Write to us with your self-check result. We arrange your consultation, the procedure if needed and your follow-up in Medellín, with a clear price from the first message.