Chalazion: racial risk factors for formation, recurrence, and surgical intervention

An association between race and formation of chalazion has yet to be objectively established. This study investigates race as a risk factor for chalazion and chalazion surgery. Understanding racial risk factors in formation of chalazion, recurrent chalazion, and chalazion requiring surgery (often with general anesthesia in children) informs decisions regarding eyelid hygiene, early topical medical therapy, and aggressiveness with oral antibiotic therapy for coexisting conditions such as blepharitis. Demographic data was collected for all pediatric visits to the University of Wisconsin-Madison ophthalmology department from 2012–2019. Retrospective chart review was performed for the subset with chalazion. Of 28 433 minors, 584 had 1088 chalazia, a 2% overall rate. Chalazion was seen in 1.8% of non-Hispanic/Latino participants and 3.8% of Hispanic/Latino participants (p value