Please see other ophthalmology guidelines as needed. 

This guideline has not yet had a GP working group review.  We appreciate your feedback.

See resources for referral form, parent information and more.

Initial findings and when to refer

• Lump in or beneath the skin of the eyelid -
  • Refer non-urgently for excision when stye/ chalazion is unresponsive to treatment for > 3 months.
• Skin around the stye/ chalazion appears cellulitic or painful -
  • IMMEDIATE REFERRAL if complications are unresponsive to antibiotic treatment.

Recommended pre-referral assessment / treatment

Styes or chalazia will often disappear on their own. Most will expand in size and then spontaneously rupture. Topical antibiotics are of limited value in this situation.

• Treat with warm compresses (clean, warm washcloth held against closed eyelid) for 2-5 minutes, 2 - 5 times per day.
• Commence chloramphenicol ointment or drops, or oral antibiotics as appropriate. Refer to the Paediatric Pharmacopoeia.
  • Review in 1-2 days to re-evaluate. Refer if the treatment is ineffective.

Contact information

RCH Switchboardtelephone (03) 9345 5522

For clinical advice ask for:

• Ophthalmology registrar or fellow on-call

  • Department of Ophthalmology - clinical advice (or direct dial 03 9345 5630)
  • Emergency Department - for clinical advice after hours

• For urgent appointments also call 03 9345 6180

Admission enquiries ask for:

• General admission enquiries (or direct dial 03 9345 6172)
• ED admission enquiries: (or direct dial 03 9345 6477)

Resources

• RCH OPD referral form (word)
• Generic parent handout (about RCH pre-referral guidelines)
• Kids Health Info - parent information website
• Kids Connect (Primary Care Liaison) www.rch.org.au/kidsconnect
  OPD resources for GPs page contains all referral forms, clinic information, referral process information, other pre-referral guidelines, MBS Enhanced Primary Care Items and parent information.

References

Paediatric Handbook (2009). Eye Conditions, Chapter 23 (pp357-368). James Elder and Peter Barnett. 8th Ed, Blackwell Publishing by the Staff of the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. Australia.

Feedback

Please give feedback on this guideline - kids.connect@rch.org.au / telephone: (03) 9345 4645 / fax (03) 9345 4650

Last updated August 2011

Guideline developed by the RCH Department of Ophthalmology. First published Dec 2007. Please read  Copyright and Disclaimer