Have you developed a lump on your eyelid?
Andrew Pearson MA MRCP FRCOphth
Consultant Ophthalmic and Oculoplastic Surgeon
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Eyelid lumps and bumps

Have you noticed a lump on your eyelid? Or a Stye that never seems to go away?
Maybe a lump came up, became red and angry, then gradually got better but never seemed to go away. Perhaps you have noticed a small swelling or ulcer on your eyelid or near your eye and it has been getting bigger over the last few months. You may even have had it for years and recently became concerned about it.

Either way, lumps in the eyelid and around the eye are very common. Men and women, from the very young to the very old can get them.

The good news is that most of them are nothing to worry about. Many are caused by blocked glands in the eyelid but with time they can get slowly bigger and even interfere with your eyesight.

Although common, lumps and swellings around the eye and eyelid should never be ignored. Rarely they can be caused by a much more serious problem, even a cancer. And like all cancers, the earlier they are diagnosed and treated, the more likely it is they can be cured completely.

The most important thing is to see a specialist quickly who can make an accurate diagnosis and treat the problem urgently.

What conditions cause lumps and bumps around the eyes?

There are many possible causes for lumps and bumps around the eye. Cysts are very common, for example.

However, it is not always easy to tell the difference between non-serious lumps and bumps and serious lumps and bumps around the eye, which is why it is so important to see a specialist. Even GPs can often struggle to make the right diagnosis, often preferring to send their patients directly to see a hospital specialist.

Some benign eyelid lumps

Eyelid Stye   A Meibomian cyst (Chalazion)
Eyelid Stye   A Meibomian cyst (Chalazion)
Cyst of Zeiss   Cyst of Moll
Cyst of Zeiss   Cyst of Moll
Papilloma    
A Papilloma    

Some Eyelid Cancers

Basal Cell Cancer   Squamous Cell Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Cancer
This is the commonest eyelid cancer but is usually easily treatable
 

Squamous Cell Skin Cancer
This can be more serious than the basal cell cancer

Malignant Melanoma of the eye    

Malignant melanoma of the eyelid
It is important to diagnose this type of cancer as early as possible

   

What can be done about these problems? Will I need an operation?

When you telephone my secretary she will arrange a private consultation with me personally at a date and time convenient for you – usually within a few days of your call.  I understand how important your eyesight is to you and how worrying any problems like this can be and my goal is to diagnose and treat your eye problems with the minimum of fuss, delay, discomfort or inconvenience to you.

I will see you personally where we will go through your symptoms before I fully examine your eyes using state-of-the art equipment.

Understandably you would want to avoid an operation if at all possible but occasionally surgery is the best or only treatment recommended. You can be assured that I will perform a thorough assessment of your eyes and general health and recommend a treatment tailored to your specific needs.

I will explain all the treatment options for your condition.  As you might expect, the treatment depends entirely upon the cause.  The good news is that most eyelid conditions are benign – in other words, they are not cancer. Better still, as an experienced eye surgeon 99 times out of a 100 I can give you the diagnosis at our very first outpatient meeting – and also treat the problem, quite often there and then in the clinic. In many cases all I need to do is to numb the area with local anaesthetic and remove the lump in the clinic – meaning that your mind is put to rest straight away and the problem has gone, all in the same outpatient visit.  Many procedures last only a few minutes and you can go home shortly afterwards.

Simply put, in the hands of an expert eye surgeon the treatment for eyelid lumps and bumps is often quick and simple. Proper assessment is vital though because some eyelid lumps and bumps unfortunately do turn out to be cancerous and clearly these need urgent treatment.  If your condition means I cannot treat your eyelid lump there and then in the clinic, or if that is inconvenient for you, I will arrange to treat the problem on another hospital visit at a date and time convenient to you.  The good news is that the operations have a very high success rate and usually only require a local anaesthetic – so you don’t even need to be put to sleep to have it done and will be able to go home the same day.

What can I expect after surgery?

After your operation you will be given antibiotic eye drops to use in the day and eye ointment to apply at night.

You will have an eye pad to wear for the first night too to help protect the eye and keep you comfortable. This can come off the following morning.

The eyelids are generally swollen and bruised and a little sore after surgery but this quickly settles and can be helped by ice packs and simple painkillers like Paracetamol and Ibuprofen.

A week off work is a good idea whilst things settle down, and you should also avoid swimming and heavy exercise for the first 2-3 weeks.

What sort of follow-up will I need after surgery

I will normally arrange to see you after surgery to see how you are getting on, with further follow- ups arranged if needed.  In many cases only a single follow-up clinic visit is all that is required.

I am of course always available between appointments – if you have any concerns simply contact my secretary and I will try to call you right back – and if necessary see you again quickly

Who am I? And why should you trust your eye health to me?

My name is Andrew Pearson and I am a Consultant Eye Surgeon - my NHS practice is based at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading and the Prince Charles Eye Unit, Windsor.

I always see private patients personally and at your convenience – usually within the week.

I have undertaken specialist oculoplastic eye surgery training in Nottingham and Moorfields Eye Hosiptal, London. I am also a founder member of the British Oculoplastic Surgeons Society – in other words I not only treat patients, I am involved in training eye surgeons of the future.

My research interests span many years and I regularly present studies at national and international meetings on eye conditions.

What do other patients say?

Thank you so much for all your time and care with my eyelid surgery. You have taken so much time and effort and pride in your work I would have no doubt in recommending your work to anyone.

I just wanted to say many thanks for your continued help with my eye problem. Your professionalism and help has been excellent.

Thank-you for the fantastic job you have done on my forehead and for going through all the details before the operation.

Thank you for the advice that the growth you remove from my eye-lid was benign. The eye-lid has settled down very well, it would be difficult to detect that anything untoward had ever occurred there, remarkable.

How do I make an appointment?

I see patients privately at:

Circle Hospital, Reading
100 Drake Way
Reading
RG2 0NE

The Princess Margaret Hospital, Windsor
Osborne Road
Windsor
Berkshire SL4 3SJ

Spire Thames Valley Hospital
Wexham Street
Slough
SL3 6NH

To arrange an expert assessment of your eyes simply contact my secretary Susanna Morys:

Tel:  01753 841567
Email: Click here to email

Your eye health is extremely important – don’t delay, make an appointment TODAY.

Click here for map locations of the hospitals above

 

Eyelid Surgery in Berkshire
Cataract Surgery in Berkshire
Andrew Pearson Eye Specialist
Andrew Pearson
Contact:
Tel. 01753 841567
Susanna Morys (Secretary)
Click Here to Email
 
Appointments available at -
Circle Hospital, Reading
The Princess Margaret Hospital, Windsor
Spire Thames Valley Hospital, Wexham
 
Locations for Andrew Pearson - Click Here for more detailed maps

Cataract Surgery in Berkshire
 
 
Tel 01753 841567 - Susanna Morys (Secretary)
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