Br J Ophthalmol 2000;84:782-785
( July )
A prospective study of cost, patient satisfaction, and outcome of
treatment of chalazion by medical and nursing staff
T L Jackson, L Beun
The Sussex Eye
Hospital, Brighton
Correspondence to: Mr Tim Jackson, Academic Department of Ophthalmology, The Rayne
Institute, St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1
7EH
TimLJackson{at}hotmail.com
Accepted for publication 24 February 2000
AIM
To study
prospectively the outcome of conservative and surgical treatment of
chalazia provided by medical and nursing staff.
METHODSDuring a 5 month recruitment period all patients attending a district general eye
hospital for treatment of chalazion were included in the study. 129 patients (217 visits) with chalazia were seen by either a senior nurse
or a trainee ophthalmologist (senior house officer, SHO) or both.
Patients received either conservative treatment or eversion of the
eyelid with incision and curettage. Patients were mailed a
questionnaire asking them if their cyst had resolved and how they rated
their treatment. Marginal cost analysis was used to determine the cost
of treatment.
RESULTSThe outcome of
treatment could be determined in 170 of the 217 visits. Conservative
treatment was successful for 29% of cysts while surgical treatment was
successful for 72%. There was no significant difference in treatment
outcome between nurse and SHO groups. Patients found nurse treatment
acceptable with a high level of patient satisfaction. The marginal cost
of treatment by a nurse was £9.91 per cyst compared with £12.10 for
SHOs. There were no surgical complications and no evidence of
malignancy in six biopsies.
CONCLUSIONSSurgical
treatment of chalazion is safe and effective and successfully treats
approximately three quarters of selected cysts. With conservative
treatment approximately one third of selected chalazia will resolve
within 3 months. Nurse treatment of chalazion is safe, effective, and
acceptable to patients.
© 2000 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
