Anaesthetic
Local, with the eyelid numbed. You are awake, and it typically takes well under an hour.
Eyelid Lump Removal in Singapore
Most lumps on the eyelid are harmless, and many can be removed in a short procedure. This page covers the common ones, when a lump should be checked, and how it is removed.
- Oculoplastic surgeon Dr Jason Lee
- Over 18 years in ophthalmology
- Same-day appointments, subject to availability
Camden (Orchard)OculoplasticsEyelids
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An oculoplastic surgeon
Dr Jason Lee, Senior Consultant Eye Surgeon and Medical Director, trained in the eyelids, the orbit and the tear system in fellowships in Taiwan and China.
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Removed whole
A lump that is removed can be sent to a laboratory, so you know exactly what it was.
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Surgery at Camden
Eyelid lump removal is carried out at our Camden clinic on Orchard Boulevard.
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What an eyelid lump is
A lump or mass on the eyelid is a growth in the skin or in the lid beneath it. Most are harmless: a blocked oil gland, a small cyst, a skin growth or a mole.
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A lump in the lid is removed whole, and can be sent for testing
The common eyelid lumps
- Chalazion. A firm, painless lump from a blocked oil gland; chalazion removal is covered in full.
- Stye. A tender, red lump at the lash line from an infected lash root; see stye treatment.
- Cyst. A smooth, round swelling under the skin, sometimes clear or pale.
- Papilloma or skin tag. A soft, fleshy growth, often on a small stalk.
- Mole. A small brown or skin-coloured bump, often there for years.
- Milia. Tiny, hard white spots just under the skin.
- Xanthelasma. Soft, flat yellow patches, usually near the inner corner.
Xanthelasma: yellow patches on the eyelids
Xanthelasma are deposits of cholesterol under the skin, often on both lids near the nose. They are harmless in themselves but can go with raised cholesterol, and with a higher risk of heart disease even when cholesterol is normal, so a blood test and a check with your GP are worth doing. They do not go away on their own, and they can be removed.
A lump on your eyelid? Talk to our friendly staff for an appointment with Dr Jason Lee.
How an eyelid lump is removed
The first step is looking at the lump closely.
- 1 Examining it. Its size, colour and edges, and the lashes around it, under a magnifying lamp.
- 2 Removing it. A short procedure under local anaesthetic takes the lump out whole.
- 3 Testing it. Where needed, it is sent to a laboratory, so you know exactly what it was.
Removal and repair
How the lump is removed depends on its size and where it sits. Most are small, and the skin simply heals or is closed with a few stitches.
- Shaving it off. A lump that sits on the surface is lifted off level with the skin.
- Cutting it out. A deeper lump is removed whole and the skin closed with fine stitches.
- Repairing the lid. Where a larger lump or one on the lid edge is removed, the lid is rebuilt so it closes and sits as before.
A lump that needs testing is removed completely, and which approach suits yours is decided with Dr Jason at your consultation.
Stitches
Where they are needed, fine stitches are removed or dissolve within about two weeks.
Afterwards
Any bruising settles within one to two weeks. Test results follow at your review.
Eyelid lump removal is carried out by Dr Jason Lee at our Camden clinic, and only once the lump has been examined.
Eyelid lump or something else?
Not every swelling around the eye is a lump in the lid, and the cause decides the treatment.
- A lump in the lid. A defined bump you can feel, in the skin or just beneath it.
- A swelling by the nose. A lump at the inner corner, often with a watering eye, can be the tear sac.
- A swollen, red lid. The whole lid puffy and sore, from an infection or an allergy, rather than one lump.
- Loose skin or eye bags. Soft fullness below the eye that is not a lump in the lid.
That is why the lump is examined before anything is decided. A swelling at the inner corner with a watering eye can be a blocked tear duct.
What eyelid lump removal costs
The fee depends on the lump, how it is removed and whether it is tested, so it is quoted once it has been examined.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Camden | |
| First consultation | $174.40 |
| Follow-up consultation | $119.90 |
| Eyelid lump removal | Please enquire |
All fees shown are nett, with GST included. The procedure and any laboratory test are charged separately, only where they are needed, and are quoted at your consultation. MediSave and Corporate and Personal Insurance can be used towards eligible surgery; we confirm what applies to you when you are seen.
Who removes eyelid lumps
Eyelid lump removal at The Straits Eye Centre is carried out by Dr Jason Lee, whose subspecialty is oculoplastics: the eyelids, the orbit and the tear drainage system. Talk to us for a quick appointment.
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Dr Jason Lee
Senior Consultant & Medical Director
The Straits Eye CentreMBBS · BMedSc · MMed (Ophth) · FRCOphth · FAMS
Common questions
What causes a lump on the eyelid?
Most are a blocked oil gland (a chalazion), an infected lash root (a stye), a small cyst, a harmless skin growth such as a papilloma or mole, tiny milia, or yellow cholesterol deposits called xanthelasma.
Can a lump on the eyelid go away on its own?
Some do. A stye usually settles within a week or two, and many chalazia clear within weeks. Moles, papillomas, cysts and xanthelasma do not go away on their own; they stay the same or slowly grow.
Could a lump on my eyelid be cancer?
It is uncommon. Most eyelid lumps are harmless. A lump is worth having looked at if it keeps growing, bleeds or crusts, does not heal, changes the shape of the lid, or has lashes missing over it. So should a lump that looks like a chalazion but keeps coming back, does not settle with the usual treatment, or thickens the lid, as a rarer cancer can occasionally look like one. Where there is any doubt, it is removed and tested. The most common eyelid cancer grows slowly and is treated by removing it completely.
Should I squeeze or pop a lump on my eyelid?
No. Squeezing can spread an infection into the lid, and it does not remove a cyst, mole or growth, which sit deeper than the surface.
How is an eyelid lump removed?
The lid is numbed with a local anaesthetic and the lump is removed whole, either shaved off the surface or cut out and the skin closed with fine stitches. It typically takes well under an hour.
Will removing an eyelid lump leave a scar?
Eyelid skin heals well, and a cut is placed along the lid’s natural lines where possible, so most scars fade until they are hard to see. A larger lump, or one near the lid margin, may need the lid repaired as well.
Is xanthelasma a sign of high cholesterol?
It can be. About half of people with xanthelasma have raised cholesterol, and in a large study it was linked with a higher risk of heart disease even in people whose cholesterol was normal. A blood test and a check with your GP are worth doing.
Can xanthelasma come back after removal?
Yes, it can, whichever way it is removed. Removal treats the patch you can see, not the tendency to form new ones.
Does eyelid lump removal hurt?
Not during it. The eyelid is numbed first. Afterwards it may be sore and bruised for a few days, and ordinary painkillers are generally enough.
Can I use MediSave or insurance for eyelid lump removal?
Sometimes, towards part of it. MediSave and Corporate and Personal Insurance can be used towards eligible surgery, and whether yours is eligible depends on why the lump is being removed. We confirm it at your consultation at our Camden clinic.
Who removes eyelid lumps?
An eye surgeon, usually one whose subspecialty is oculoplastics: the eyelids, the orbit and the tear drainage system. At The Straits Eye Centre they are removed by Dr Jason Lee, Senior Consultant, at our Camden clinic.
Have an eyelid lump looked at
Tell us which eyelid, how long the lump has been there and whether it has changed, and we will arrange the right appointment.
