Chalazia and Styes

What are Chalazia and Styes?

• A Chalazion (chalazia, plural) is a swelling or bump in the lid caused by inflammation and blockage/clogging of eyelid oil-producing glands.

• A Stye or Hordeolum is a swelling or bump in the lid caused by infection of an eyelash follicles or eyelid oil-producing glands.

Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology

Symptoms of Stye and Chalazion

• Early on: lid soreness or tenderness

• Later: onset of lid swelling

• If the lid lesion is not treated early, a non-resolving lump may occur requiring surgery.

Who is at risk?

While anyone can get a stye or chalazion, you are more likely to get one if you have:

1. Bacterial overgrowth on the lids and lashes - which can be seen in a chronic condition known as blepharitis, but also in the setting of poor hygiene with eye makeup or artificial eyelash use

2. History of previous styes or chalazia

3. Skin conditions such as rosacea or seborrhea

4. Dermatochalasis, a condition where there is excess skin hanging over the eyelids

5. Other medical factors: hormonal changes, environmental changes, diabetes 

New Treatment of Styes and Chalazia

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

IPL is an in-office treatment that uses pulses of light to penetrate the skin over and around the chalazion, targeting inflammation and bacteria.  It is quick, well-tolerated, and requires no injections or incisions. Appropriate protection for your eye is put into place by your doctor during the treatment, and there is minimal to no downtime after. At InVision, we have successfully treated many chalazia with IPL.

Traditional Treatment of Styes and Chalazia

1. Warm compresses – Use a tall warm glass of water wrapped in a tissue, held on the eyelid for 10 minutes several times a day. This stays warm longer than a washcloth.

2. Antibiotics – Antibiotic-steroid combination eye drops or ointments may help. Oral antibiotics may be prescribed for significant infections.

3. Injections – Some doctors inject chalazia with steroids, but there is a rare risk of blindness.

4. Surgery – If a stye or chalazion does not resolve, minor in-office surgery may be needed.