What Causes the Formation of Calcium Deposits on the Eyelid, and How Are They Treated?
Calcium deposits are usually caused by underlying health conditions that increase the amount of calcium produced by the body. This may include excessive vitamin D intake, renal complications, lupus, hyperthyroidism or a simple genetic inheritance. Calcium deposits are often not problematic, but deposits that are particularly irritable may be removed through surgery.
Calcium is a perfectly ordinary mineral to find in human blood, usually calcifying in bones and teeth in a perfectly healthy manner. Occasionally excess calcium may form in many other parts of the body, including the shoulder, breasts or eyes.
This condition is known as calcinosis, and when it occurs in and around the eyes it is known as corneal calcinosis.
Calcified lesions that sit around the eye are often benign and do not inhibit the vision of the individual afflicted. In rare cases, however, they may lead to a loss of vision and surgery is required for the removal of the cataract.
Surgery for the removal of a calcium deposit in the eye is generally successful, and it is carried out using a topical anesthetic. The process involves scraping the calcium deposits away, using a surgical laser to smooth the lens of the eye and restoring normal vision if it is required.
Some natural remedies include rinsing the eyes with washes composed of olive oil or aloe vera, but they are not considered effective by medical professionals.
