Demography and Clinical Features of Chalazion Among Patients Seen at a Multi-Tier Eye Care Network in India: An Electronic Medical Records Driven Big Data Analysis Report

PURPOSE: To describe the prevalence, demographics and clinical presentations of chalazion in patients presenting to a multi-tier ophthalmology network in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational multi-centric hospital-based study of 1,982,058 new patients presenting between 2010 and 2019. Patients with both symptoms and signs of chalazion were considered as subjects. The data were retrieved using an electronic medical record system. RESULTS: Overall, 11,270 (0.57%) new patients were diagnosed with chalazion. Of these, 1,085 (10%) patients had recurrent chalazia. The prevalence rates were 0.95% in children and 0.51% in adults. Males accounted for 51% of the cases, and 79% had unilateral affliction. The commonest age group affected was the third decade of life (31%). Of the 13,691 affected eyes with chalazion, 39% were located in the upper eyelid, 6% were lateral in position and 3% have multiple swellings at presentation. Conservative treatment was the preferred treatment modality in 85%. Incision and curettage were performed in 15% eyes and intralesional steroid in 0.55% eyes. Of the 15% patients that were advised surgery, 9% underwent the procedure with a conversion rate of 58%. CONCLUSION: Only a miniscule percentage of patients seeking eye care in India are affected by chalazion. It is slightly more common in males and is usually unilateral and largely affects the upper eyelids. It is recurrent in a tenth of the cases. Conservative management is the preferred modality.