Vision Issues After Chalazion Surgery

I had chalazion surgery two weeks ago. Before the surgery my doctor told me that my vision was being affected by the chalazion -- it was causing a temporary astigmatism. He removed the chalazion surgically and told me my vision should return in a week or so. It's been two weeks and I'm still having vision issues. The swelling from the surgery has gone down but my vision has not returned to normal. Has anyone experienced this or have some advice for me. It's freaking me out. I had 20/15 vision before the chalazion appeared.

Thanks!!!

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

Reducing the size of the chalazion should reduce the astigmatism that it was causing (assuming that it was indeed causing astigmatism and blurring vision.)  Now, it would be very helpful if you  had a corneal topography scan to see exactly how the chalazion was pressing on the cornea first to be clear about the cause and second to follow the improvement (hopefully.)

Understand that just because your chalazion was incised and excised to some degree does not cure you of the chalazion or always work completely.  It may take many weeks to a few months for the optimum improvement.  A small scar will also form where you had the procedure also.  Sometimes patients still need to use warm compresses for a while and some require a second procedure or even a steroid injection down the road if improvement is limited.  So in summary it may take much more time than you think and a corneal topography scan is the only real way to know for sure how the astigmatism is responding.

MJK MD