Multiple chalazions in toddler

I am really worried about my son's chalazions, which have popped up at various times in ALL of his four eyelids. We have seen two pediatric eye specialists, and were told it was somewhat common and besides surgery there is nothing they can do. Since he is only 2 year old, we have not considered surgery as an option. But we are frustrated by how rampant the problem is. Now he has a red bump on his lower left eyelid (down from a really bad swelling, but still very visible), a red bump on his upper right eyelid, and two small hidden ones, which are likely to grow big like the other twos.

Is there really no good solutions out there? Why is my son so prone to this problem? He is actually a very neat baby and rarely rubs his eyes. Also, if we do chose to go with surgery, do we need to put him under or just laughing gas?how likely this problem will come back after the surgery? If we wait too long for the surgery, is there risk (scarring etc.) involved? So far we have seen two private ped eye doctors, both are doc. MD in DC area, but is there a leading expert on the condition of Chalazion?

Many thanks

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You can use the search feature to pull up the many discussions of chalazia as well as blepharitis which is the most common cause. Many treatments such as intralesional injection of steroids or incision and currettement can only be done on children and infants under general anesthesia and that involves some risk and considerable expense.

Consider using TheraTears SteriLid foam eyelid cleaner to clean his lids.

There is no simple and always successful way to deal with this common difficult problem.

On one specializes in chalazia exclusively. You can always go to a department of ophthalmology at one of the area medical schools. You need to see their pedatric ophthalmologists.

JCH III MD