Greetings to all and sundry,
It is another beautiful day today and it is an absolute pleasure and a great privilege to come your way once again this day with another one of our health episodes where we discuss ocular conditions and how best we can go about protecting ourselves as well as getting the best support for whatever we may be experiencing.
Today we would be looking at another common condition in our part of the world and what we ought to do when we notice or find out that our neighbors or we may be having this condition. The possible first aid we could administer and the best advice we could give based on what we learn today. We do hope you stay with us for this read.
Introduction
Our eye lids are one of the most important and first line of protection when it comes to our eyes. It does a lot for our ocular health, including protection from mechanical damage and helping to lubricate the eye by spreading tears and housing some of the glands that produce the various components of our tear film.
This particular function of housing these glands sometimes become trouble for our eye or eyelid when the outlets for these glands' secretions onto the eye get clogged up, especially the fatty part of the tear film produced by the sebaceous glands. When this happens we end up with either of two conditions, chalazion or stye, for today we would be taking a look at chalazion and hopefully style in our next writeup.
Chalazion
So when these outlets get clogged up, it tends to solidify just as expected of fat, causing the lid to swell up at the very point where the clogging may be happening. And so when you look in your mirror you may notice this swelling and when you touch the lid you can feel the lump there.
One thing about chalazion though a very important point that distinguishes chalazion from style is that is it not painful upon touch or palpation however it quite uncomfortable for the patient both aesthetically and the sensation being felt on the eye owing to its sensitive nature.
A chalazion is not an ocular emergency however it is not advisable to sit by and wait for it to go away all by itself, on some occasions it does however on many other occasions it would need help resolving without any complication which could easily turn it into a stye. And so it is advisable to seek professional care or counsel as soon as possible.
In the Akan language the condition is referred to as "Deshe3", mostly become it is claimed that is it the royals that experience this condition and that should you get it, it is a sign that you are from royalty. Thus "Deshe3" translates directly as royal. This is not scientifically proven in any way and getting this condition frequently should be of great concern, especially in terms of hygiene, and would be advisable to seek professional care as already mentioned.
Management/Conclusion
This is one of the easiest conditions to treat, aside from the eye drops that your Optometrist would give you to prevent infection and also for prophylactic care, you may need to do what we term as warm compresses to melt the lipid and help with the drainage or flow on to the eye. Doing this for a few days should see the swelling resolve.
Most often the clogging may be caused by unhygienic conditions regarding the eyelashes which could easily result in another condition called Blepharitis which would also be dealt with in the days ahead. And so even if you intend to practice warm compresses, please do well to seek professional care if you ever develop this condition.
Let me hasten to add that the purpose of these lessons is not so you can self-medicate but be guided about your health and understand things better when your healthcare provider educates and advises you. On that note, we are grateful to you our dear reader, our followers, and supporters for all the love and back. Stay safe and have a wonderful time.