What are common risk factors for developing a chalazion?

• A. Diabetes, hypertension, obesity.
• B. Acne rosacea, chronic blepharitis, seborrhea, tuberculosis, viral infection.
• C. Myopia and hyperopia.
• D. Only aging-related changes.

Answer: (B)

Chalazion forms when the Meibomian glands in the eyelids become obstructed by inflammatory debris and lipid stasis, leading to a localized granulomatous reaction. Conditions that cause chronic eyelid margin inflammation and Meibomian gland dysfunction increase this risk. Acne rosacea and chronic blepharitis are classic drivers of lid-margin inflammation, and seborrhea reflects a chronic skin condition that often accompanies blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction. When the eyelids are chronically inflamed, gland openings clog more easily, lipids back up, and a chalazion can develop.

Infections can contribute as well. Viral infections that inflame the eyelids or conjunctiva perpetuate lid-margin irritation and obstruction, and tuberculosis is a granulomatous process that can involve the eyelid and mimic or precipitate chalazion-like lesions, making it a recognized albeit less common associated factor in certain settings.

These factors fit chalazion risk much more closely than systemic/metabolic conditions (like diabetes, hypertension, or obesity) or refractive errors, which do not directly cause the eyelid margin inflammation or Meibomian gland obstruction that underlie chalazion formation.