Eyelid lumps

The eyelids are complex structures and are a common site of origin for benign and malignant tumours.

Eyelid tumors can cause ocular irritation, bleeding, distortion of the eyelid anatomy and when they grow significantly in size they can cause upper eyelid ptosis and lower eyelid ectropion.

The most common benign eyelid lumps include warts, xanthelasma, mole, chalazion, sebaceous cysts and sweat gland cysts. Benign eyelid tumors can be easily removed surgically for aesthetic purposes and the sutures are removed one week following the procedure.

Before and one week after right upper lid naevus excision.

Before and one day following left lower lid sebaceous cyst excision.

Malignant eyelid tumors and their treatment

Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) accounts for 85% of all eyelid cancers. It is related to significant sun exposure and can present as a slow growing painless lump that does not metastasize but can gradually destroy local tissues and potentially invade the eye if left untreated.

Further types of eyelid malignancies include squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma and melanoma which present rarer but much more aggressive types of eyelid skin cancer than the BCC.