What are the indications for using intralesional corticosteroid injections in the management of chalazia?

Indications for using intralesional corticosteroid injections in the management of chalazia include:

• Large or symptomatic chalazia that do not improve or resolve with conservative management after 4 to 6 weeks.
• Chalazia that persist beyond 6 months despite conservative treatment, where intralesional steroid injection is considered as an alternative to incision and curettage.
• Cases where the patient prefers a less invasive option than surgery, or where clinical judgement supports steroid injection for large or symptomatic lesions.

Intralesional corticosteroid injections are therefore primarily indicated for large, persistent, or symptomatic chalazia that fail to respond to initial conservative measures.

Referral to ophthalmology is recommended for these cases to consider intralesional steroid injection or surgical options.

Antibiotics are not routinely needed as chalazia are inflammatory and non-infectious.

Persistent or recurrent lesions should be evaluated to exclude malignancy before invasive treatments.

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