Chalazion and Stye (Hordeolum)

Chalazion

Image

SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Stye

Image

DR. CHRIS HALE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Chalazions and styes are painful lumps on your eyelid. Chalazions and styes start out with similar symptoms and look a lot alike.

• A chalazion is a pimple caused by a blocked oil gland in your eyelid—it isn't infected

• A stye is a staph infection at the base of an eyelash

• Chalazions usually go away on their own in 2 to 8 weeks

• A stye usually breaks open after about 2 to 4 days, and then it goes away on its own

• Putting a hot compress on your eye may help a chalazion or stye go away faster

• Doctors sometimes have to let the pus out of a stye by making a small cut with a tiny scalpel blade

Your eyelid will have a small lump that is:

• Red

• Painful

• Swollen

• Irritated or tender

Chalazion symptoms usually go away after a few days, but there may be a lump for up to 8 weeks.

A stye usually breaks open after 2 to 4 days, letting some pus out and then going away.

Doctors can tell if you have a chalazion or a stye by examining your eyelid.

Chalazions and styes usually go away on their own. To ease the pain and help them heal:

• Put a clean, warm, wet compress on your eyelid for 5 to 10 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day

• Don't try to pop it

• Clean your eyelids with mild soap and water

• Don't use your contact lenses or eye makeup until they heal

If your chalazion lasts longer than 8 weeks, your doctor may:

• Drain the fluid

• Give you a corticosteroid shot in your eyelid

If your stye doesn't go away on its own, or is very painful, your doctor may:

• Give you antibiotics

• Let the pus out by making a small cut with a tiny scalpel blade