A Stye on the Eyelid

This morning your alarm went off, you shuffled to the bathroom, and now you see a lump on your eyelid. That’s disconcerting. Don’t sweat it; you most likely have a chalazion. That’s a serious-sounding word for eyelid stye.

There are different ways to address chalazions and our team at Millennium Park Eye Center is well versed with all the options.

What is a chalazion?

When it comes to lumps on your eyelids, chalazia are the most common. They show up as a small swelling or lump on the eyelid, usually the upper eyelid. They often are red and appear inflamed. Sometimes they can become relatively large and make the person self-conscious.

What causes a chalazion?

Glands are what are causing your eyelid stye. You have glands throughout your body doing all sorts of important tasks. Glands make things that your cells, tissues, and organs need to work properly. The meibomian glands can be found in your upper and lower eyelids and their job is to make oil that mixes with tears to continually moisten and protect your eyes. There are just under 100 meibomian glands in the eyelids, located near the eyelashes. When the duct that drains the gland is blocked, the fluid becomes backed up inside the gland and forms a chalazion.

Symptoms of a chalazion

• A bump or lump in the upper or lower eyelid
• Tenderness of the eyelid
• Sensitivity to light
• Excessive tearing
• Blurry vision
• Blepharitis
• Astigmatism

How do you treat a chalazion?

A chalazion will usually resolve itself, but they can take their sweet time doing so. The process can take months, so patience is a virtue. We can advise you on methods to hasten their demise at home, or, in more difficult situations, can provide a couple treatment options.

These are the typical treatments for a chalazion:

• Applying a warm compress four times daily for 10-15 minutes
• Applying antibiotic ointment
• Steroid injections
• Surgical drainage

If you have a newfound lump on your eyelid, come see us at Millennium Park Eye Center. Call us at (312) 996-2020 to make your appointment.