A prospective randomized study comparing incision and curettage with injection of triamcinolone acetonide for chronic chalazia

Abstract Purpose To compare outcomes of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection and incision and curettage (I&C) in the treatment of chronic chalazion. Methods Patients with chronic chalazion were randomized in two groups. The patients in the TA received an intralesional injection of TA and patients in the I&C underwent I&C. The patients were followed up 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 45 days after the procedures. We defined success as 90% regression in the size of the lesion. Results There were 26 patients in the TA and 25 patients in the I&C enrolled in this study. Complete resolution was achieved in 16 patients (61.5%) in the TA group and 21 patients (84%) in the I&C ( P  = 0.072). Sex, initial size, and chalazion location did not influence treatment success in either group ( P  > 0.05). Lesion recurrence occurred in 9 patients (34.61%) in the TA group and 2 (8%) in the I&C ( P  = 0.04). The average times to resolution were 8.8 ± 5.6 and 5.1 ± 4.5 days in the first and second groups, respectively ( P  = 0.03). Drug deposition occurred in 24 (92.3%) patients in the TA group, and ecchymosis occurred in 14 (56%) patients in the I&C ( P  = 0.004) group. Intraocular pressure (IOP) in the TA group and visual acuity (VA) in both groups remained unchanged. Conclusions Both TA injection and I&C modalities are effective in the treatment of chronic chalazia. Advantages of I&C in comparison to TA include less recurrence, shorter duration of complications, and a higher success rate.