Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection versus Incision and Curettage for Primary Chalazion: A Prospective Randomised Study

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection and incision and curettage (I&C) for treating primary chalazion.

Methods: This was a randomised, prospective study of 62 patients with primary chalazion conducted at a single hospital over the course of a year. Upon study screening, all patients underwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation and blood investigations. Post randomisation, Group A (n=31) was administered a single transconjunctival injection of 0.1 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL) and Group B (n=31) underwent lesion incision and curettage. Patients were evaluated on post operative day 7 and 14, at which point success was defined as complete clinical resolution, post operative days, and treatment success.

Results: The presence or absence of chalazion location and gender did not impact the outcome of the treatment for either group. After two weeks, 26 of the 31 patients (83.87%) in group A achieved complete resolution. This was the case for 29 of the 31 patients (93.54%) in group B. The average time for resolution of the chalazion for group A was 11 days and 8 days for group B. The occurrence of chalazion recurrence was noted in 3 patients (9.67%) of group A and 1 patient (3.22%) of group B.

Conclusion: There is a slightly higher success rate with incision and curettage compared to intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection for the treatment of primary chalazion. Having understood it can be conintralesional TA is still an important, less invasive option when surgery would be more difficult or is less desirable.