As an Oculoplastic surgeon, I receive hundreds of referrals about worrying eye lesions every month. Lumps and bumps are common findings on the skin around the eyes and the eyelids. Aside from being unsightly, they can also lead to a great deal of anxiety. The lesions can be benign such as a chalazion or more serious such as cancer.
Unfortunately the eyelids and surrounding skin are particularly prone to cancerous lesions. This is because the skin is thin and also more exposed to the sun due to its location. Harmful UV light can lead to mutations in cells and the development of cancer. Patients are often advised to monitor lesions themselves which may be fine for some but can lead to a delayed diagnosis and treatment for others. The safest course of action for any lesion is to get it checked out by a specialist. If there is any doubt about the lesion's nature I always advise a diagnostic biopsy (which usually also involves complete removal of the lesion at the same time).
For lesions that are deemed benign, they can still cause symptoms such as irritation and also cause patients to feel self-conscious about their appearance. In these cases removal of the lesion may still be preferred rather than monitoring.
Earlier treatment of lumps and bumps usually leads to less drastic surgery and a better cosmetic result. Most benign lid lumps can be treated without leaving any significant scarring. For most cancerous lesions, advanced reconstructive surgery leaves very little noticeable scarring as well.
To read more about eyelid lesions and how they are treated follow the links below to their dedicated webpages:
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