Styes & Chalazions

A stye or a chalazion are a swelling in the eyelid caused by inflammation of one of the small oil-producing glands located in the upper and lower eyelids. A stye is sometimes confused with a chalazion, which also appears as a lump in the eyelid. A stye is an infection of the oil gland and forms a red, tender lump while a chalazion is a more chronic or long-lasting inflammation that is not very tender and is often secondary to a stye that did not resolve. Sometimes a stye or chalazion can cause the entire eyelid to swell suddenly.

When a stye or chalazion is small and without symptoms, it may disappear on its own. If the chalazion is large, it may cause blurred vision. Styes and chalazions are treated with any or a combination of the following methods:

  • Warm compresses and massage to help to clear the clogged gland;
  • Rarely, antibiotic ointments may be prescribed if bacteria infect the stye or chalazion;
  • And rarely, steroid injections may be used to reduce inflammation.

The most common way to eradicate a non-resolving stye or chalazion is surgery. The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia in your ophthalmologist’s (Eye M.D.’s) office.

Styes or chalazions usually respond well to treatment, although some people are prone to recurrences. If a chalazion recurs in the same place, your ophthalmologist may suggest a biopsy to rule out problems that are more serious.