Benign or malignant eyelid lesions

Halazion, stye, cyst, skin tag, mole, nevus, basal cell carcinoma

Various bumps, lumps, or growths are common on the eyelid. Many are benign and can be removed in the office with local anesthetic. Cancerous (malignant) growths can also occur especially in older adults. Other risk factors for eyelid cancer include smoking, fair skin, history of sun exposure or sunburns, and past history of skin cancer. It is important for the oculoplastic surgeon to distinguish a benign from a cancerous growth which often requires an in-office biopsy. Final treatment recommendations will be based on the biopsy results. Further treatment is typically needed for skin cancers and often utilizes Mohs’ surgery in which a trained dermatologist carefully removes the cancer to preserve normal tissue. This is followed by repair by the oculoplastic surgeon. The common types of skin cancers that affect the eyelids include:

Basal cell carcinoma – The most common type, often present as a flesh-colored bump or nodule.

Squamous cell carcinoma – The second most common type, often presents as a scaly lesion.