Stye or Chalazion? How to Tell the Difference and When to Seek Treatment

Posted in Anacortes, Eye Blog, Eye Exam, Fluctuating Vision, Medical, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley, Stanwood

By Jared Rasmussen OD

A growth or bump on an eyelid can be an aggravating experience. Eyelids are very sensitive and having a growth there can cause pain, irritation and emotional stress due to cosmetic concerns. While most lid growths are benign and do not pose any serious health risk, any new growth, especially one that is growing or pigmented, should be evaluated. Today we will discuss two of the most common lid bumps we see which can sometimes be hard to differentiate between.

Stye

A stye also known as hordeolum is a small bump that appears near the margins of eyelids. They are caused by a localized infection at the base of the eyelashes in oil glands or follicles. A stye that affects a hair follicle, and can be seen externally, is called an external hordeolum. When an oil gland is infected, it is usually visible on the inside of the lid and called an internal hordeolum. Symptoms of styes include redness, pain, swelling and tenderness of the affected area, possible discharge and changes to vision.

If left untreated styes can lead to infections of the eyelid called preseptal cellulitis, which is a more serious condition.

Chalazion

A chalazion is a non-infectious bump on the eyelid that is usually further away from the eyelid margin. Chalazions are caused by blocked oil glands. Sometimes a chalazion can result from a stye. In general, chalazions are larger than styes but painless. A chalazion will not spread throughout the lid but can cause blurry vision if large enough.

Treatment Options

The initial treatment for a stye or chalazion is warm compresses. This can be done with heat packs like a Bruder mask or similar over-the-counter products. A warm, clean washcloth can also be used but needs to be reheated. Using a warm compress multiple times per day is very effective at treating styes. For styes, cleaning the margins of the eyelid with over-the-counter lid wipes can also be effective. If an infection spreads topical or oral antibiotics are sometimes necessary.

If chalazions are large or present for long enough they will be resistant to simple treatments like warm compresses. Steroid injections can be beneficial if done before 4-6 weeks of duration. If a chalazion does not resolve, surgical removal can be performed under local anesthesia. While a stye or chalazion do not usually pose any serious health issue, it is important to differentiate from other lid growths and be consistent with treatments for best resolution. Cascadia Eye has a team of physicians ready to help with any of these needs!

Contact Cascadia Eye

If you would like to learn more, or if you would like to schedule an appointment or consultation with our talented doctors at Cascadia Eye, please contact us today or use our online scheduler. You may also pre-shop for glasses at our online pre-shopping page any time. Our entire team is committed to protecting and improving your vision and the health of your eyes. We are happy to answer any questions you might have!

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