Symptoms, pictures, causes, and treatment

A chalazion is a small, slow-growing lump or cyst that develops within the eyelid. They are not usually painful and rarely last longer than a few weeks.

A chalazion can develop when a meibomian gland at the edge of an eyelid becomes blocked or inflamed. These glands produce oil that lubricates the surface of the eye.

In this article, we look at the symptoms of a chalazion and the differences between a chalazion and a stye. We also describe causes, home treatment, when to see a doctor, surgery, and prevention.

In the early stages, a chalazion appears as a small, red or otherwise inflamed area of the eyelid.

Within a few days, this inflammation can develop into a painless and slow-growing lump.

A chalazion can appear on the upper or lower eyelid, but they are more common on the upper lid.

Although chalazia are generally painless, they can cause the eye to become watery and mildly irritated. A particularly large chalazion may press on the eyeball, which can lead to blurry vision.

People sometimes confuse a chalazion with a stye due to the similarities in appearance. A stye is also a small lump that can develop in the eye area.

Although people often use the two terms interchangeably, they refer to different types of lesion.

A chalazion results from a blocked oil gland, whereas a stye indicates an infected oil gland or hair follicle. However, a chalazion can sometimes develop into a stye.

There are two types of stye:

• External hordeolum: These occur at the base of the eyelash and usually result from an infection in the hair follicle.
• Internal hordeolum: These develop inside the eyelid and tend to result from an infection in an oil gland.

The most noticeable difference between a chalazion and a stye is that a chalazion tends to be painless. A stye is usually very painful and may cause the eye to feel sore and scratchy.

Other symptoms of a stye can include:

• swelling of the eyelid
• a small pimple, which may contain pus
• crustiness along the edge of the eyelid
• sensitivity to light
• a watery eye

Most styes increase in size for around 3 days before the pus begins to drain. They usually take around 1 week to heal.

A chalazion typically occurs in a person with an underlying inflammatory condition that affects the eyes or skin. Some of these conditions include:

Less commonly, chalazia develop due to viral conjunctivitis, which is a type of eye infection.

Individuals who have had a stye or chalazion have an increased risk of developing chalazia in the future.

Other risk factors for a chalazion include:

A chalazion usually requires very little medical treatment and tends to clear up on its own within a few weeks.

In the meantime, it is important to avoid squeezing or popping the chalazion, as this can increase the risk of an eye infection.

However, there are several safe ways to promote drainage and speed up the healing process. These include:

Warm compresses

Applying a warm compress to the affected eye can help soften any hardened oil blocking the gland ducts. This helps the ducts open and drain more effectively, which can relieve irritation.

To make and use a warm compress:

• Soak a soft, clean cloth or cotton pad in a bowl of warm water.
• Wring out any excess liquid.
• Apply the damp cloth or pad to the eyelid for 10–15 minutes.
• Continue wetting the compress often to keep it warm.
• Repeat this several times a day until the swelling goes down.

Gentle massage

Gently massaging the eyelids for several minutes each day can help the oil ducts drain more effectively.

Before doing so, ensure that the hands are clean to reduce the risk of infection.

Once the chalazion begins to drain, keep the area clean and avoid touching it with bare hands.

Over-the-counter treatments

A number of over-the-counter products can help treat a chalazion or stye. These may reduce irritation, prevent infection, and speed up the healing process.

Some of these products include ointments, solutions, and medicated eye pads. A pharmacist can provide advice.

Things to avoid

To prevent further discomfort or irritation, it is best to avoid wearing eye makeup or contact lenses until the chalazion heals.

Share on PinterestA person should speak to a medical professional if their chalazion does not go away after a month.

Consider seeing an eye doctor, an ophthalmologist or optometrist, if a chalazion does not drain and heal within 1 month.

The healthcare professional will ask about symptoms and examine the area to rule out other conditions. They may also prescribe anti-inflammatory eye drops or ointments to reduce discomfort and speed healing.

For some people, a doctor may give a steroid injection to reduce swelling. This will depend on the location, size, and number of chalazia present.

If there are signs of a bacterial infection, the doctor may recommend a course of oral antibiotics.

For a person with a severe or persistent chalazion, a doctor may recommend surgery to drain it. This typically takes place in the doctor’s office using local anesthesia.

Chalazia can sometimes recur. If this happens often, the doctor may need to take a biopsy of the lump.

A biopsy involves removing a small sample of tissue, which the doctor will examine for signs of a more serious condition.

Cleansing the eye area every day can help prevent a chalazion from developing or recurring.

Using eyelid scrubs or premoistened cleansing wipes to keep the oil glands from becoming blocked.

Other chalazion prevention tips include:

• not rubbing the eyes
• ensuring that the hands are clean before touching the eyes
• protecting the eyes from dust and air pollution, for example by wearing sunglasses when outdoors or safety goggles when using machinery, such as power tools
• replacing eye makeup every 6 months to prevent bacterial growth

A chalazion is a painless lump that can develop on the eyelid.

Although chalazia can cause irritation and discomfort, they are usually harmless and clear up on their own within a few weeks. Occasionally, a chalazion may become infected and develop into a stye.

See an eye doctor, an optometrist or ophthalmologist, if the eye area becomes particularly swollen or painful, or if the chalazion does not respond to home treatment.

A daily eye-cleansing routine may help keep a chalazion from recurring.

Symptoms, pictures, causes, and treatment

A chalazion is a small, slow-growing lump or cyst that develops within the eyelid. They are not usually painful and rarely last longer than a few weeks.

A chalazion can develop when a meibomian gland at the edge of an eyelid becomes blocked or inflamed. These glands produce oil that lubricates the surface of the eye.

In this article, we look at the symptoms of a chalazion and the differences between a chalazion and a stye. We also describe causes, home treatment, when to see a doctor, surgery, and prevention.

In the early stages, a chalazion appears as a small, red or otherwise inflamed area of the eyelid.

Within a few days, this inflammation can develop into a painless and slow-growing lump.

A chalazion can appear on the upper or lower eyelid, but they are more common on the upper lid.

Although chalazia are generally painless, they can cause the eye to become watery and mildly irritated. A particularly large chalazion may press on the eyeball, which can lead to blurry vision.

People sometimes confuse a chalazion with a stye due to the similarities in appearance. A stye is also a small lump that can develop in the eye area.

Although people often use the two terms interchangeably, they refer to different types of lesion.

A chalazion results from a blocked oil gland, whereas a stye indicates an infected oil gland or hair follicle. However, a chalazion can sometimes develop into a stye.

There are two types of stye:

• External hordeolum: These occur at the base of the eyelash and usually result from an infection in the hair follicle.
• Internal hordeolum: These develop inside the eyelid and tend to result from an infection in an oil gland.

The most noticeable difference between a chalazion and a stye is that a chalazion tends to be painless. A stye is usually very painful and may cause the eye to feel sore and scratchy.

Other symptoms of a stye can include:

• swelling of the eyelid
• a small pimple, which may contain pus
• crustiness along the edge of the eyelid
• sensitivity to light
• a watery eye

Most styes increase in size for around 3 days before the pus begins to drain. They usually take around 1 week to heal.

A chalazion typically occurs in a person with an underlying inflammatory condition that affects the eyes or skin. Some of these conditions include:

Less commonly, chalazia develop due to viral conjunctivitis, which is a type of eye infection.

Individuals who have had a stye or chalazion have an increased risk of developing chalazia in the future.

Other risk factors for a chalazion include:

A chalazion usually requires very little medical treatment and tends to clear up on its own within a few weeks.

In the meantime, it is important to avoid squeezing or popping the chalazion, as this can increase the risk of an eye infection.

However, there are several safe ways to promote drainage and speed up the healing process. These include:

Warm compresses

Applying a warm compress to the affected eye can help soften any hardened oil blocking the gland ducts. This helps the ducts open and drain more effectively, which can relieve irritation.

To make and use a warm compress:

• Soak a soft, clean cloth or cotton pad in a bowl of warm water.
• Wring out any excess liquid.
• Apply the damp cloth or pad to the eyelid for 10–15 minutes.
• Continue wetting the compress often to keep it warm.
• Repeat this several times a day until the swelling goes down.

Gentle massage

Gently massaging the eyelids for several minutes each day can help the oil ducts drain more effectively.

Before doing so, ensure that the hands are clean to reduce the risk of infection.

Once the chalazion begins to drain, keep the area clean and avoid touching it with bare hands.

Over-the-counter treatments

A number of over-the-counter products can help treat a chalazion or stye. These may reduce irritation, prevent infection, and speed up the healing process.

Some of these products include ointments, solutions, and medicated eye pads. A pharmacist can provide advice.

Things to avoid

To prevent further discomfort or irritation, it is best to avoid wearing eye makeup or contact lenses until the chalazion heals.

Share on PinterestA person should speak to a medical professional if their chalazion does not go away after a month.

Consider seeing an eye doctor, an ophthalmologist or optometrist, if a chalazion does not drain and heal within 1 month.

The healthcare professional will ask about symptoms and examine the area to rule out other conditions. They may also prescribe anti-inflammatory eye drops or ointments to reduce discomfort and speed healing.

For some people, a doctor may give a steroid injection to reduce swelling. This will depend on the location, size, and number of chalazia present.

If there are signs of a bacterial infection, the doctor may recommend a course of oral antibiotics.

For a person with a severe or persistent chalazion, a doctor may recommend surgery to drain it. This typically takes place in the doctor’s office using local anesthesia.

Chalazia can sometimes recur. If this happens often, the doctor may need to take a biopsy of the lump.

A biopsy involves removing a small sample of tissue, which the doctor will examine for signs of a more serious condition.

Cleansing the eye area every day can help prevent a chalazion from developing or recurring.

Using eyelid scrubs or premoistened cleansing wipes to keep the oil glands from becoming blocked.

Other chalazion prevention tips include:

• not rubbing the eyes
• ensuring that the hands are clean before touching the eyes
• protecting the eyes from dust and air pollution, for example by wearing sunglasses when outdoors or safety goggles when using machinery, such as power tools
• replacing eye makeup every 6 months to prevent bacterial growth

A chalazion is a painless lump that can develop on the eyelid.

Although chalazia can cause irritation and discomfort, they are usually harmless and clear up on their own within a few weeks. Occasionally, a chalazion may become infected and develop into a stye.

See an eye doctor, an optometrist or ophthalmologist, if the eye area becomes particularly swollen or painful, or if the chalazion does not respond to home treatment.

A daily eye-cleansing routine may help keep a chalazion from recurring.

Symptoms, pictures, causes, and treatment

A chalazion is a small, slow-growing lump or cyst that develops within the eyelid. They are not usually painful and rarely last longer than a few weeks.

A chalazion can develop when a meibomian gland at the edge of an eyelid becomes blocked or inflamed. These glands produce oil that lubricates the surface of the eye.

In this article, we look at the symptoms of a chalazion and the differences between a chalazion and a stye. We also describe causes, home treatment, when to see a doctor, surgery, and prevention.

In the early stages, a chalazion appears as a small, red or otherwise inflamed area of the eyelid.

Within a few days, this inflammation can develop into a painless and slow-growing lump.

A chalazion can appear on the upper or lower eyelid, but they are more common on the upper lid.

Although chalazia are generally painless, they can cause the eye to become watery and mildly irritated. A particularly large chalazion may press on the eyeball, which can lead to blurry vision.

People sometimes confuse a chalazion with a stye due to the similarities in appearance. A stye is also a small lump that can develop in the eye area.

Although people often use the two terms interchangeably, they refer to different types of lesion.

A chalazion results from a blocked oil gland, whereas a stye indicates an infected oil gland or hair follicle. However, a chalazion can sometimes develop into a stye.

There are two types of stye:

• External hordeolum: These occur at the base of the eyelash and usually result from an infection in the hair follicle.
• Internal hordeolum: These develop inside the eyelid and tend to result from an infection in an oil gland.

The most noticeable difference between a chalazion and a stye is that a chalazion tends to be painless. A stye is usually very painful and may cause the eye to feel sore and scratchy.

Other symptoms of a stye can include:

• swelling of the eyelid
• a small pimple, which may contain pus
• crustiness along the edge of the eyelid
• sensitivity to light
• a watery eye

Most styes increase in size for around 3 days before the pus begins to drain. They usually take around 1 week to heal.

A chalazion typically occurs in a person with an underlying inflammatory condition that affects the eyes or skin. Some of these conditions include:

Less commonly, chalazia develop due to viral conjunctivitis, which is a type of eye infection.

Individuals who have had a stye or chalazion have an increased risk of developing chalazia in the future.

Other risk factors for a chalazion include:

A chalazion usually requires very little medical treatment and tends to clear up on its own within a few weeks.

In the meantime, it is important to avoid squeezing or popping the chalazion, as this can increase the risk of an eye infection.

However, there are several safe ways to promote drainage and speed up the healing process. These include:

Warm compresses

Applying a warm compress to the affected eye can help soften any hardened oil blocking the gland ducts. This helps the ducts open and drain more effectively, which can relieve irritation.

To make and use a warm compress:

• Soak a soft, clean cloth or cotton pad in a bowl of warm water.
• Wring out any excess liquid.
• Apply the damp cloth or pad to the eyelid for 10–15 minutes.
• Continue wetting the compress often to keep it warm.
• Repeat this several times a day until the swelling goes down.

Gentle massage

Gently massaging the eyelids for several minutes each day can help the oil ducts drain more effectively.

Before doing so, ensure that the hands are clean to reduce the risk of infection.

Once the chalazion begins to drain, keep the area clean and avoid touching it with bare hands.

Over-the-counter treatments

A number of over-the-counter products can help treat a chalazion or stye. These may reduce irritation, prevent infection, and speed up the healing process.

Some of these products include ointments, solutions, and medicated eye pads. A pharmacist can provide advice.

Things to avoid

To prevent further discomfort or irritation, it is best to avoid wearing eye makeup or contact lenses until the chalazion heals.

Share on PinterestA person should speak to a medical professional if their chalazion does not go away after a month.

Consider seeing an eye doctor, an ophthalmologist or optometrist, if a chalazion does not drain and heal within 1 month.

The healthcare professional will ask about symptoms and examine the area to rule out other conditions. They may also prescribe anti-inflammatory eye drops or ointments to reduce discomfort and speed healing.

For some people, a doctor may give a steroid injection to reduce swelling. This will depend on the location, size, and number of chalazia present.

If there are signs of a bacterial infection, the doctor may recommend a course of oral antibiotics.

For a person with a severe or persistent chalazion, a doctor may recommend surgery to drain it. This typically takes place in the doctor’s office using local anesthesia.

Chalazia can sometimes recur. If this happens often, the doctor may need to take a biopsy of the lump.

A biopsy involves removing a small sample of tissue, which the doctor will examine for signs of a more serious condition.

Cleansing the eye area every day can help prevent a chalazion from developing or recurring.

Using eyelid scrubs or premoistened cleansing wipes to keep the oil glands from becoming blocked.

Other chalazion prevention tips include:

• not rubbing the eyes
• ensuring that the hands are clean before touching the eyes
• protecting the eyes from dust and air pollution, for example by wearing sunglasses when outdoors or safety goggles when using machinery, such as power tools
• replacing eye makeup every 6 months to prevent bacterial growth

A chalazion is a painless lump that can develop on the eyelid.

Although chalazia can cause irritation and discomfort, they are usually harmless and clear up on their own within a few weeks. Occasionally, a chalazion may become infected and develop into a stye.

See an eye doctor, an optometrist or ophthalmologist, if the eye area becomes particularly swollen or painful, or if the chalazion does not respond to home treatment.

A daily eye-cleansing routine may help keep a chalazion from recurring.

Stye (Hordeolum and Chalazion) in Adults: Condition, Treatments, and Pictures – Overview

54337
34

Information for
AdultsChildTeen

caption goes here…

Images of Hordeolum (Stye) and Chalazion

Overview

A stye (hordeolum) is a local, acutely inflamed growth (swelling, lesion) of the eyelid. They can occur at the lid margin or farther up the lid on either the inner (tarsal) side or the outer (skin) side of the lid. A chalazion is the chronic form of a stye, and its cellular makeup is different than that of a stye.

Both the meibomian and sebaceous oil glands of the lid can be involved in this process, which begins with a blockage of the normal openings of these glands, leading to the swelling. Typically, there is bacterial contamination.

Who’s at risk?

Styes and chalazions are extremely common. You are more likely to have this problem if you have:

• Dry skin problems
• Blepharitis
• Acne rosacea
• Poor lid hygiene
• Incomplete removal of eye makeup
• Outdated or infected cosmetics
• Increased stress
• Hormonal changes

Signs and Symptoms

One should be suspicious of having a stye when there is the rather rapid development of a pus-filled bump (pustule) or swelling on the edge of the eyelid or on the lid itself. Chalazions are more of a rounded lump and are harder in consistency.

Some of the things you may experience include:

• Pain
• Redness of the eye
• Discharge from the swelling
• Tenderness to touch
• Tearing
• Very mild blurring of vision
• Burning sensation
• Scratchy feeling in the eye
• Drooping of the eyelid
• Crusting of the eyelid edges

Self-Care Guidelines

Apply frequent (4–6 times daily) very warm compresses until there is no more drainage from the stye or chalazion. The compresses must be hot enough to help drain the growth yet not so hot as to burn the very delicate eyelid skin. It usually takes 7–10 days, at most, for the problem to resolve. Good lid hygiene is also mandatory. Over-the-counter ointments or drops have no treatment value.

Note: Recurring styes or chalazions without other related factors suggest possible serious disease. With the start of very warm compresses, the growth may get larger temporarily before draining.

When to Seek Medical Care

You should seek medical advice if:

• The eyelids are swollen shut.
• There is no improvement after using frequent very warm compresses for 10–14 days.
• There is pus or very thick drainage from the eye.
• Pain or tenderness is increasing despite compresses.
• The swelling is increasing beyond the first 2–3 days.
• The eyelid is hot to the touch.
• You develop a fever.
• Recurrences are frequent, especially at the same location.
• Progressive vision changes are experienced, including double vision.

Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe

Treatment may involve any or all of the following:

• Surgical incision and drainage
• Injection of steroid into the growth
• Antibiotic ointments
• Antibiotic drops
• Oral antibiotics (especially if there is possible lid infection suspected)
• Treatment for underlying/contributing conditions such as dandruff, acne rosacea, psoriasis, etc.

Trusted Links

MedlinePlus: Eye Diseases
MedlinePlus: Eyelid Disorders
Clinical Information and Differential Diagnosis of Hordeolum (Stye) and Chalazion

References

Kanski JJ, Nischal KK, eds. Ophthalmology: Clinical Signs and Differential Diagnosis. pp. 17, 91. Philadelphia: Mosby, 1999.

Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 2^nd ed, pp. 708-709. St. Louis, MO: Mosby, 2004.

Styes and Chalazia | Michigan Medicine

Topic Overview

What are styes and chalazia?

Styes and chalazia are lumps in or along the edge of an eyelid. They may be painful or annoying, but they are rarely serious. Most will go away on their own without treatment.

• A stye is an infection that causes a tender red lump on the eyelid. Most styes occur along the edge of the eyelid. When a stye occurs inside the eyelid, it is called an internal hordeolum (say “hor-dee-OH-lum”).
• A chalazion (say “kuh-LAY-zee-on”) is a lump in the eyelid. Chalazia (plural) may look like styes, but they are usually larger and may not hurt.

Styes and chalazia may be related to blepharitis, a common problem that causes inflammation of the eyelids.

What causes a stye or chalazion?

Styes are caused by a bacterial infection. Usually the bacteria grow in the root (follicle) of an eyelash. An internal hordeolum is caused by infection in one of the tiny oil glands inside the eyelid.

A chalazion forms when an oil gland in the eyelid becomes blocked. If an internal hordeolum doesn’t drain and heal, it can turn into a chalazion.

What are the symptoms?

A stye usually starts as a red bump that looks like a pimple along the edge of the eyelid.

• As the stye grows, the eyelid becomes swollen and painful, and the eye may water.
• Most styes swell for about 3 days before they break open and drain.
• Styes usually heal in about a week.

A chalazion starts as a firm lump or cyst under the skin of the eyelid.

• Unlike styes, chalazia often don’t hurt.
• Chalazia grow more slowly than styes. If a chalazion gets large enough, it may affect your vision.
• The inflammation and swelling may spread to the area surrounding the eye.
• Chalazia often go away in a few months without treatment.

How is a stye or chalazion diagnosed?

Doctors diagnose these problems by closely examining the eyelid. It may be hard to tell the difference between a stye and a chalazion. If there is a hard lump inside the eyelid, the doctor will probably diagnose it as a chalazion.

How are they treated?

Home treatment is all that is needed for most styes and chalazia.

• Apply warm, wet compresses for 5 to 10 minutes, 3 to 6 times a day. This usually helps the area heal faster. It may also help open a blocked pore so that it can drain and start to heal.
• Use an over-the-counter treatment. Try an ointment (such as Stye), solution (such as Bausch and Lomb Eye Wash), or medicated pads (such as Ocusoft Lid Scrub).
• Let the stye or chalazion open on its own. Don’t squeeze or open it.
• Don’t wear eye makeup or contact lenses until the area has healed.

If a stye is not getting better with home treatment, talk to your doctor. You may need a prescription for antibiotic eye ointment or eyedrops. You may need to take antibiotic pills if infection has spread to the eyelid or eye.

If a stye gets very large, the doctor may need to pierce (lance) it so it can drain and heal. Do not try to lance it yourself.

If a chalazion does not go away or if it gets worse, a doctor may recommend an injection of steroid medicine or surgery to remove it.

How can you prevent styes and chalazia?

• Don’t rub your eyes. This can irritate your eyes and let in bacteria. If you need to touch your eyes, wash your hands first.
• Protect your eyes from dust and air pollution when you can. For example, wear safety glasses when you do dusty chores like raking or mowing the lawn.
• Replace eye makeup, especially mascara, at least every 6 months. Bacteria can grow in makeup.
• If you get styes or chalazia often, wash your eyelids regularly with a little bit of baby shampoo mixed in warm water.
• Treat any inflammation or infection of the eyelid promptly.

References

Other Works Consulted

• Dambro MR (2006). Hordeolum (stye). In Griffith’s 5-Minute Clinical Consult, p. 520. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
• Neff AG, et al. (2014). Benign eyelid lesions. In M Yanoff, JS Duker, eds., Ophthalmology, 3rd ed. , pp. 1295–1305. Edinburgh: Mosby.
• Trobe JD (2006). The red eye. Physician’s Guide to Eye Care, 3rd ed., chap. 4, pp. 47–51. San Francisco: American Academy of Ophthalmology.
• Vagefi MR, et al. (2011). Lids and lacrimal apparatus. In P Riordan-Eva, ET Cunningham, eds., Vaughan and Asbury’s General Ophthalmology, 18th ed., pp. 67–82. New York: McGraw-Hill.
• Weinberg RS (2007). Diseases of the eyelid, conjunctiva, and anterior segment of the eye. In LR Barker et al., eds., Principles of Ambulatory Medicine, 7th ed., pp. 1816–1829. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
• Wright KW (2008). Pediatric “pink eye.” In Pediatric Ophthalmology for Primary Care, 3rd ed., pp. 159–187. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.

Credits

Current as of:
August 31, 2020

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica MD – Family Medicine
Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine
E. Gregory Thompson MD – Internal Medicine

Current as of: August 31, 2020

Author:
Healthwise Staff

Medical Review:Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica MD – Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine & E. Gregory Thompson MD – Internal Medicine

Stye Treatment, Surgery · Top Rated Eye Doctor · NYC Ophthalmologist

DISCLAIMER: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY ON BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

Stye Surgery

An eye stye, is a non-infective, chronic inflammation of the sebaceous gland in your eyelid that typically affects the glands on the rims of your eyelids, resulting in a painless, solid nodule on your eyelid. Styes can affect both lower and upper eyelids. Other conditions associated with styes are posterior blepharitis and acne rosacea. Aggressive styes can form into Job Syndrome or hyperimmunoglobulinemia E.

Chalazion is a similar bump caused by blocked oil glands instead of an infection, but that can be treated with the same procedure. Chalazion is often the result of the formation of meibomitis, which is a blockage of the glands on the outer edge of your eyelid. Styes are infectious and can become inflamed, causing a warm, tense swelling on your eyelids, as well as forming an unsightly bump.

All symptoms, potential procedural/surgical options should always be discussed with your physician after a thorough consultation and examination  for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Stye Treatment

Many styes clear up within two weeks of simple stye treatment: a topical antibiotic and steroid medication and the application of a warm compress. These measures reduce inflammation and increase local blood flow.

For larger styes that don’t resolve after a couple of weeks, incision and curettage is an effective stye treatment. In the case of multiple styes with no infection, a local intralesional injection of medication may decrease the stye swelling and growth in the course of a few weeks. This can also be an alternative to standard chalazion surgery.

Reasons for Stye Surgery

There are many reasons for surgically removing styes, which include:

• Stye formation creates pressure on your eyeball
• Disruption in vision
• Eyelid feels heavy
• Constant tearing caused by irritation of the stye
• Cosmetic reasons
• Fear of spreading the infection

Symptoms that may indicate a need for stye surgery include:

• Multiple styes
• Styes don’t respond to conventional treatment
• Massive chalazia — so large that conventional stye treatment doesn’t reduce them
• A stye that affects your eyeball, causing astigmatism or refractive errors

Typically, surgical removal of styes is a last resort, only undertaken when all the other conventional stye treatments have failed. Alternatives to surgery include applying a warm compress to the eye, massaging eyelids to unblock glands, and using antibiotics for infections.

Surgical Procedure

The procedure to surgically remove styes is brief, taking as little as 15 to 30 minutes. You may be asked to stay at the clinic or healthcare facility after the surgery for a longer period of observation, up to an hour or so.

The technique for removing a typical stye is as follows:

1. Local anesthesia is applied to the skin.
2. A surgical clamp called a chalazion clamp grips the eye so its hoop-like openings surrounds the stye while the other part of the clamp provides support beneath the eyelid. The circular opening exposes the conjuctival aspect of the eyelid to control the bleeding during surgery.
3. A radiofrequency cautery tip or a Bard-Parker blade is used to incise the eyelid over the area of the stye, being careful not to cut the lid margin.
4. The curette scrapes the cyst and surfaces until all the contents of the chalazion and the wall of the cyst are removed from your eyelid. The curetted materials are always sent to the lab to rule out cancer or other diseases.
5. The wound is then inspected and any remaining tissues are severed until the wound is free of chalazion content.
6. Your doctor then removes the clamp and applies pressure over the site to control the bleeding.
7. Clots are cleaned from the wound, and antibiotic ointment is applied to the affected eye for one day.
8. If a stye appears externally, it is removed in the same manner. Small incisions on your skin are made, and they’re left without stitches. You’re instructed to gently massage the surface for two weeks after the surgery to help smooth out the scar surface and leave a good cosmetic appearance.

Risks of Stye Surgery

There are potential side effects and complications associated with chalazion or stye surgical removal that include:

• Infection
• Recurrences of additional styes
• Bleeding
• Inadvertent eye trauma (accidental injury to the nearby tissue or bone)
• Lid scarring (such as notching) due to the incision on the lid margin
• Instability of the tarsal plate caused by incisions that were too large

Various risks may be caused by the injection of local anesthetic, including atrophy of the tarsal plate, hypopigmentation at the injection site, a visible deposit of the medication and a rise in intraocular pressure — called the IOP, it’s the pressure of the liquid inside your eyeball.

Results of Stye Surgery

The likely outcome after the recovery from the surgical procedure is excellent, with only mild discomfort. However, most patients who suffer from a stye are more apt to have other styes grow in other parts of the eyelid.

Once you arrive at home after a chalazion removal procedure, the following post-operative care is typically recommended:

• Apply a warm compress intermittently for 10 to 15 minutes, for up to two days after surgery
• Use the antibiotic eye drops prescribed by your doctor
• Seven to 10 days after the surgery, wash the eyelid with soap and water
• Once you recover completely, you may resume daily activities
• Take only the medications your eye doctor prescribes and avoid any pain killers or non-prescribed drugs

Recovery from a stye surgical procedure typically takes about one week. After the operation, a steroid and antibiotic drop treatment is prescribed for that week. This also includes lubricant drops for your eye. Initially, you should apply a cold compress to the eye for the first 48 hours, and then warm compresses after that, several times a day.

When multiple styes are removed, a course of oral tetracyclines may be prescribed for up to one month. Tetracycline is an antibiotic that fights bacteria. You’re instructed to follow rigid eye hygiene care when you’re fully recovered to help prevent the growths of new styes.

All symptoms, potential procedural/surgical options should always be discussed with your physician after a thorough consultation and examination  for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Important Reminder: This information is only intended to provide guidance, not a definitive medical advice. Please consult eye doctor about your specific condition. Only a trained, experienced board certified eye doctor can determine an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

Do you have any questions about Stye treatment and surgery procedure in NYC? Would like to schedule an appointment with the top Ophthalmologist in New York City, Optometrist Dr. Saba Khodadadian of Manhattan Eye Specialists, please contact our office for consultation with NYC eye doctor.

Manhattan Eye Specialists
Dr. Saba Khodadadian, Optometrist (NYC Eye Doctor)

983 Park Avenue, Ste 1D19
New York, NY 10028

(Between Madison Ave & Park Ave)
☎ (212) 533-4821

DISCLAIMER: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

The information on this website is to provide general guidance. In no way does any of the information provided reflect definitive medical advice and self diagnoses should not be made based on information obtained online. It is important to consult a best in class Optometrist or Ophthalmologist in NYC regarding ANY and ALL symptoms or signs as it may a sign of a serious illness or condition. A thorough consultation and examination with an eye specialist should ALWAYS be performed for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Be sure to call your local eye doctor or call our office today and schedule a consultation.

What Is a Stye, and What Causes Styes?

By Liz Segre; reviewed by Vance Thompson, MD

What Is a Stye?

A stye is an infection in the eyelid that causes a tender, red bump near the edge of the lid. A stye (also called a sty or hordeolum) is caused by bacteria and can occur at the base of an eyelash (external stye / hordeolum) or within one of the small oil glands within the eyelid (internal stye).

When oil glands or hair follicles get clogged by makeup, dead skin or dirt, bacteria can get trapped inside and cause an infection. This infected gland is called a stye. 

Types of Styes

1. External stye: A stye at the base of an eyelash.

2. Internal stye: A stye within one of the small oil glands within the eyelid.

While styes are the result of a blocked oil gland, you may have bumps on your eyelid for other reasons, such as milia, chalazia, a scratch or, in rare cases, cancer.  

What Causes a Stye?

A stye is caused by staphylococcal bacteria. This bacterium is found in the nose and is transferred easily to the eye when you rub your nose, then your eye.

Bacteria can cause inflammation or infection of the eyelash follicles — oil glands that drain through ducts into the eyelashes. When the duct is clogged, oil can’t drain and backs up into the gland. The gland becomes swollen and inflamed, causing the stye.

• The most common causes of styes are:

• Touching or rubbing your eye 

• Inflammation of your eyelid due to blepharitis

• Using contaminated eye makeup

• Not cleaning your eyelids or not removing makeup

• Having had styes in the past

• Medical conditions such as:

SEE RELATED: Eye stye causes, risk factors and prevention

Stye Symptoms and Signs

Symptoms of a stye include:

After symptoms appear, a small, often painful pimple-like bump will develop in the affected area. Usually this is accompanied by swollen eyes. Sometimes just the immediate area is swollen; at other times, the entire eyelid swells. If you experience pain in your eye rather than just your eyelid, see your doctor. 

Where Can You Get a Stye?

Styes can occur in several places on your eyelid:

• Stye on upper eyelid

• Stye on lower eyelid

• Stye inside an eyelid

• Stye under an eyelid

For internal styes, it’s probably best to see your doctor. External styes can be treated at home, but if they persist for longer than a week, you may want to seek medical attention. 

8 Things to Know About Styes

1. Do Styes Cause Vision Problems?

Your ability to see well at either near or distance shouldn’t be affected by a stye. If a stye is affecting your vision, see your eye doctor. 

2. Are Styes Contagious?

In most cases, styes aren’t contagious, though it’s possible to transmit the bacteria from person to person. This would require the person with a stye to touch their eye and then directly transfer the bacteria to the eye of someone else.

3. How Long Do Styes Last?

Most styes last 3 to 7 days but can persist as long as a week or two. You can speed up the healing process by applying warm compresses for 10 to 15 minutes, three or four times a day, over the course of several days. 

This will relieve the pain and bring the stye to a head, much like a pimple. In most cases, the stye will then open, drain and heal without further intervention.

Though most styes will go away with basic home remedies, like warm compresses, some need to be treated medically or drained surgically.

4. Can You Pop a Stye?

Just as you should not pop a pimple, the same is true for an eye stye. You should never pop a stye, but instead allow it to open on its own.

A stye that forms inside the eyelid (called an internal hordeolum) might not rupture and heal on its own. Because this type of stye can be more serious, your eye doctor may need to open and drain it.

If you have frequent styes, your eye doctor may want to prescribe an antibiotic ointment. He or she also might recommend using pre-moistened eyelid cleaning pads for daily lid hygiene to reduce the risk of styes and blepharitis.

5. What Other Eye Issues Can Accompany Styes?

With a stye, you may notice frequent watering in the affected eye, increased light sensitivity and a feeling like something is “in” your eye (this symptom is called a “foreign body sensation”).

6. Are Eye Styes Caused by Stress?

There is no direct evidence that stress causes styes. However, because styes are an infection, anything that compromises your immune system, such as stress or lack of sleep, might make you more prone to them. In addition, lack of sleep often leads to rubbing your eyes more frequently, which can be a risk factor.

7. Why Do I Keep Getting Styes?

If you keep getting styes, it is likely that you have not addressed the risk factors that are causing them, such as poor eyelid cleaning habits, irritated or itchy eyes, rubbing your eyes or not cleaning your contact lenses on the recommended schedule. 

8. How Is a Stye Diagnosed?

Your doctor can usually diagnose a stye on sight, and no other tests are needed. 

How Do You Treat a Stye?

There are several things you can do to treat a stye at home:

• Clean your eyelids

• Wash your hands often

• Use an eyelid cleansing pad

• Stop wearing eye makeup temporarily

• Wear your glasses instead of contacts

• Apply warm compresses or a warm washcloth

• Use antibiotic creams

• Gentle massage

For more detailed information, see our article on how to get rid of a stye.

How to Prevent Styes

• Don’t touch or rub your eyes

• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer

• Treat issues that cause itchy eyes, such as allergies

• Deal with underlying conditions like rosacea, dermatitis or blepharitis

• Use and clean contact lenses according to instructions

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water, or use a hand sanitizer that contains alcohol

• Avoid wearing eye makeup, and don’t use old makeup

• Wear glasses instead of contacts when you can

Should I See an Eye Doctor for a Stye?

Although most styes clear up fairly quickly, don’t hesitate to contact your eye doctor for additional advice. Your doctor might prescribe an ointment or a prescription stye medicine to help it heal faster.

Call your doctor if:

• The stye doesn’t start getting better after a few days

• The stye keeps getting larger

• The swelling keeps increasing

• Your vision is affected

More Stye Articles:

Page updated March 2021

90,000 What is chalazion and barley?

In everyday ophthalmic practice, there are often cases when patients complain of pain in the eyelids or in their edges, local swelling, redness. Nowadays, the so-called self-diagnosis is very popular, when people on the Internet are looking for the cause of their complaints, a significant part of the above-mentioned patients often come to an erroneous diagnosis – barley or hordeolum. Unfortunately, sometimes we hear such erroneous diagnoses from patients who were initially examined by a family doctor.

Both of these eye diseases are inflammation of the meibomian glands or Zeiss sebaceous glands located in the eyelids, which proceed either rapidly and acutely, or passively and chronically. Meibomian glands are located on the cartilaginous plate of the upper and lower eyelids and there are about 25-30 of them on each eyelid. These glands normally slowly produce fat, which protects the eye from dryness and strengthens the tear film, protecting the tears from premature evaporation. Their inflammation occurs when their outflow is blocked due to mechanical reasons or as a result of infection.

What is barley or hordeolum?
This is a rapidly developing acute, purulent, capsule-free inflammation – meibomitis (internal or white arrow in the image) or superficial inflammation of the sebaceous glands (external or black arrow in the image), which is mainly caused by staphylococcal infection, which got its name due to the similarity in size and appearance with a grain of barley.
In the overwhelming majority of cases, the main cause of infection is the thickening of the secretion of the corresponding glands and the subsequent stage, which creates a favorable environment for the development of the focus of infection.

The process begins with the appearance of a sensitive point at the edge of the eyelid, followed by a local swelling, on which a yellow “head” appears within 2-3 days. Edema of the eyelid can affect the entire eyelid and be quite pronounced, edema can also affect the mucous membrane of the eye or the conjunctiva. In the event that there is an internal type of barley, the yellow “head” will be visible only when the eyelid is opened.
Barley can appear in several places at the same time, merge into one, and relapses can occur or barley can appear again and again.

Barley often occurs when a person has a weakened immune system as a result of medication or concomitant diseases, because the body was unable to cope with microorganisms present in the body or from outside, and isolate the focus of infection.

How is barley treated?
At an early stage, the affected area can be exposed to dry heat (for example, applying a boiled egg) for ~ 5-10 minutes several times a day, which will help the blood cells to reach the site of inflammation and “fight” the pathogens of inflammation, and also reduces symptoms …In the case of barley, it is advisable to apply locally antibiotics in the form of drops or ointments. If this does not help, the optometrist may recommend making a small incision so that the pus can be released, but in no case should the barley be squeezed out, as this can spread infection and inflammation into the surrounding tissues and cause serious complications such as orbital cellulitis. , meningitis, sepsis and others. In rare cases, antibiotics are prescribed in tablets. In cases where barley reappears, it may be necessary to consult an immunologist, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system and it is recommended to take B vitamins.

What is chalazion or chalazion?
In the case of chalazion, the inflammatory process of the meibomian gland proceeds gradually and usually painlessly, and gradually increases. Sometimes chalazion are formed from barley, but more often it happens on its own.

Another factor contributing to this process is blockage of the duct of the gland and the onset of the inflammatory process, but the causative agent of inflammation is generally not an infection. When it appears, you usually feel a hard granular structure in the tissues of the eyelid.If the chalazion recurs periodically, then general health problems may arise, which secondarily cause “improper” secretion of the gland, which in turn causes blockage of the glands. Unlike barley, the process of inflammation of the chalazion is limited to the capsule, and therefore there is a possibility of its effective surgical treatment, but the effect of local application of antibiotics is not so good.

How to treat chalazion?
Part is drawn out spontaneously over several weeks or months using warm, dry compresses and topical application of antibiotics / corticosteroid drops or ointments during the acute period.However, in cases where the chalazion does not stretch, surgical treatment is recommended. This is done by local anesthesia, making an incision in the skin or on the side of the conjunctiva and separating it from the surrounding tissues, the formation, if possible, without affecting the capsule, is eliminated. If the incision is made from the side of the skin, sutures are applied. If from the inside of the eyelid, then the sutures are not superimposed. On the day of the operation, a dressing is applied to the eye, which can be removed the very next day. When returning home after surgery, the patient himself should not drive a car due to his closed eye.A bruise may develop on the eyelid, which can last up to 2 weeks. On the first day, it is recommended to apply dry cold compresses to reduce postoperative swelling and bruising. After the operation, local antibiotics are prescribed in the form of drops or ointments. In some cases, it is recommended that the surgical material be examined histologically to confirm its benign quality.

Overall

BUZOO Clinical Ophthalmological Hospital named after V.P. Vykhodtseva

Chalazion (ancient Greek χαλάζιον – hailstone, nodule, hardening) is a chronic (unlike barley) proliferative inflammation of the meibomian glands of the eyelid cartilage.

Meibomian glands are branched sebaceous glands in the thickness of the cartilage of the upper and lower eyelids, the excretory ducts of which open at the growth line of the eyelashes. Normally, the meibomian glands produce a fatty secretion, which is part of the tear film that moisturizes the eyes and serves to lubricate the cornea and the edges of the eyelids.Thanks to this oily secretion, friction between the edge of the eyelids and the front surface of the eye is reduced when blinking.

When the excretory duct of the gland is blocked, the fatty secretion accumulates inside it, the gland increases in size and gradually turns into a dense rounded formation surrounded by a capsule – chalazion.

Chalazion is often confused with barley – since the initial symptoms of these diseases are similar, moreover, internal barley can cause chalazion. However, unlike barley, chalazion does not go away on its own and is a chronic pathology.

Reasons

The reasons for the development of chalazion can be very diverse.

Chalazion can occur spontaneously due to obstruction of the meibomian gland.

Chalazion often occurs in chronic blepharitis and rosacea.

Chalazion can also occur in case of violation of personal hygiene rules and during stress, with a decrease in the protective functions of the body, or frequent colds, gastrointestinal tract pathology (chronic gastritis, colitis, gastroenterocolitis, biliary dyskinesia, dysbiosis, etc.). Hypothermia and the use of contact lenses can also act as risk factors. Chalazion often develops from internal barley – with periodic recurrences or lack of proper treatment.

There are a number of factors leading to chalazion that you cannot directly influence. Any condition of the body that provokes increased sebum secretion is a potential cause of chalazion. Seborrhea, hormonal changes – for example, in diabetes mellitus – are just a few of them.

This disease is not inherited – it is acquired. At a young age, it occurs much more often than in older people, because the glands work less intensively at an older age.

Clinical signs

With the development of chalazion, patients complain of a neoplasm (lump) in the lower or upper eyelid, which slowly increases in size. Vision does not change unless the chalazion is so large that it puts pressure on the cornea, causing astigmatism.Basically, patients are worried about a cosmetic defect.

Usually, the disease does not develop immediately, but over several weeks.

When viewed in the thickness of the eyelid, a dense rounded formation of the size from a millet grain to a small pea (2–8 mm) is found, painless on palpation, covered with unchanged, mobile skin.

When examining the inner surface of the eyelid, local redness is observed.

Accession of a secondary infection can cause purulent inflammation of the chalazion – abscess formation.In this case, pain appears, the skin over the chalazion turns red, edema of the eyelid tissues and a temperature reaction are observed around the capsule of the chalazion. These symptoms are an indication for an immediate visit to an ophthalmologist.

Chalazion can spontaneously open from the conjunctiva or skin, while a white pasty mass is released. Sometimes a fistula is formed – a channel between the cavity of the chalazion and the surface of the skin. Granulations are found around the fistulous opening – tissue proliferation. The skin is dry, reddened, covered with crusts – dried discharge.

What to do?

Today, there are several treatment regimens for chalazion – their choice depends on the stage and characteristics of the course of the disease. All cases, like any other problems with such a sensitive organ as the eyes, have one thing in common – the diagnosis and treatment of the problem should be carried out by a qualified ophthalmologist.

Attention! If you suspect a chalazion, you can not carry out self-treatment with “folk remedies”. Most of these recommendations are either ineffective and provoke a relapse of the disease, or, which is dangerous for your health, aggravate its development.Avoid the risk of infection or irritation – and only under medical supervision.

It is strictly forbidden:

– to warm up the chalazion with signs of inflammation – this can cause the spread of the purulent process to the surrounding tissues with the development of an abscess and phlegmon of the eyelid.

– squeeze out the contents of the chalazion.

Conservative treatment

If the chalazion is “fresh” and small – the nodule has not yet hardened, an abscess may be visible – then you may be advised to start with conservative therapy.

The simplest remedies under the supervision of a specialist can be very effective – they will promote the resorption of pus, relieve inflammation. These include physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory drugs (drops and eye ointments) – note that the doctor selects the means for treating chalazion individually, taking into account the patient’s medical history.

If you have repeatedly had chalazions, blepharitis, there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract, then hygienic treatment and massage of the eyelids can be recommended, which reduce the blockage of the ducts of the meibomian glands and, therefore, reduce the risk of chalazion formation.

In the event of acute blepharitis or meibomyitis, timely adequate treatment should be carried out.

For inflamed chalazion: drops and ointments containing antibiotics and corticosteroids are used.

If you have chalazion for a longer time and its contents have become denser, more radical means are needed to dissolve it. Corticosteroid therapy has proven its effectiveness – an injection of hormonal drugs into the bundle itself (Diprospan, Kenalog).The procedure is minimally invasive, leaves no residue and is practically painless – if necessary, local anesthesia is allowed. This technique is used primarily in children.

Surgical treatment

In the absence of effect from the above methods of treatment, surgical removal of the chalazion in the operating room is used for several weeks – this is the most effective and radical method. The operation takes about 15 minutes under local anesthesia.

Depending on the localization of the chalazion, an incision is made in the skin or conjunctiva and the chalazion with a capsule is excised.If the incision is made from the conjunctival side, no sutures are required. If the operation is performed on the skin side, 1-2 sutures are applied. After the operation, a tight pressure bandage is applied to the eye. For 5-7 days, anti-inflammatory drops and ointment are prescribed. If a fistula has formed, then an incision is made along the fistulous course and the altered tissues forming it are excised, then sutures are applied. The sutures are removed 6-7 days after the operation.

If chalazion often occurs in the same place, you should exclude the possibility of a malignant neoplasm – adenocarcinoma (cancer) of the meibomian gland.If cancer is suspected, it is imperative to conduct a morphological examination of the surgically removed chalazion (histology).

If even you are not worried about the cosmetic effect, visit a specialist. Depending on how old the chalazion is, the doctor will recommend the right treatment. Remember, the later you see an ophthalmologist, the more likely surgery is.

It is especially important not only to eliminate the manifestations of chalazion, but also to prevent the recurrence of the disease.Therefore, the doctor may prescribe you a course of antibiotic therapy, immunostimulating and restorative drugs. If there is a pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to consult a gastroenterologist.

Treatment of seborrhea and rosacea should be carried out by a dermatologist.

Prevention

It is necessary to follow the rules of eyelid hygiene: apply warm compresses, followed by massage of the eyelids (with fingertips in circular movements, for 3-5 minutes, towards the edge of the eyelid). It is recommended that you lead a healthy lifestyle with adequate sleep and avoid stressful situations.

The prognosis of the disease is favorable.

We remind you that no article or site can make a correct diagnosis. A doctor’s consultation is required!

Dear patients, you can get specialized help in the BUZ PO “Clinical Ophthalmological Hospital named after V.P. Vykhodtseva “. Outpatient care and diagnostics are carried out at the Consultative Polyclinic. If you have an identity document (passport), a compulsory medical insurance policy and an ophthalmologist’s referral to your place of residence, you need to contact the registry to make an appointment with a doctor on a first-come, first-served basis.Adults – Omsk, st. Decembrists 41, tel. (3812) 30-52-56, 58-07-03 Mon-Fri: 8:00 – 15:00. Reception desk at the center for the treatment of myopia and other refractive errors – children, adults. – Omsk, st. 20 years of the Red Army 21/4, tel. (3812) 36-60-60, 36-60-50 Mon-Fri: 9:00 – 17:00.

Surgical treatment is carried out with hospitalization in a round-the-clock hospital under the compulsory medical insurance program (adults, children) or at the Outpatient Surgery Center on the basis of the Consultative Polyclinic on a paid basis (only adults). Registration for surgical treatment is carried out after prior consultation and diagnosis.

You can also contact us on a paid basis in the following situations:

– no direction;

– with direction, but without queuing, out of turn;

– if you are not a citizen of the Russian Federation;

– if you do not have a compulsory medical insurance policy.

Share the link to Chalazion disease on social networks and blogs to let other people know about eyelid disease and how to treat it.

90,000 Inflammation of the upper and lower eyelids

The eyelids are the apparatus that protects the eyeball.The inflammatory process interferes with the protective function of the apparatus, and visual performance decreases.

Reasons

Inflammation on the eyelids can be triggered by a virus, bacteria, fungi, allergens, trauma, and the use of low-quality decorative cosmetics. Often, inflammation occurs due to non-compliance with hygiene standards, including violation of the rules for storing and wearing lenses. Endocrine diseases, stress, weakening of the immune system are also “provocateurs”.

Symptoms

The development of the disease is signaled by: edema, redness, an increase in the temperature of the problem area, pain, dysfunction of the organ of vision. Even if there are no other signs of an inflammatory process, these symptoms are a sufficient reason to seek advice from an ophthalmologist (link) of our clinic.

Pathology

Inflammatory diseases of the skin folds are acute and chronic.Can affect the upper, lower eyelid, both eyes at the same time.

Sharp

Among the most common acute:

• Barley . External (purulent inflammation of the hair follicle) or internal (meibomian gland). Caused by the disease Staphylococcus aureus.
• Furuncle. Purulent necrotic inflammation of the hair follicle, sebaceous glands and surrounding connective tissue.It is localized in the upper century, in the brow region. Rarely on the edge of the eyelid in the area of ​​the external corner of the palpebral fissure. The causative agent is staphylococcus aureus.
• Dacryoadenitis – inflammation of the upper eyelid. Complication after general infections (flu, tonsillitis, etc.)
• Dermatitis . It occurs as a result of allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmune diseases. Itching, peeling, and blistering rashes are added to the symptoms listed above.

Less common is an abscess of the century, phlegmon.

Chronic

Chronic diseases include:

• Blepharitis – inflammation of the edges of the eyelids. Caused by skin bacteria. Demodectic blepharitis – mites of the genus demodex. Redness and swelling of the edges of the eyelids is noted. Itching. Loss of eyelashes. With ulcerative blepharitis, there are abscesses and purulent crusts.
• Chalazion – proliferative inflammation of the meibomian gland and cartilage around it.It can occur both after barley and independently.

Blepharitis and chalazion are often combined with conjunctivitis.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is established on the basis of examination, collection of anamnesis, clinical presentation and necessary research.

In the ophthalmological clinic “Optic-Center” for the detection of diseases, they carry out:

• Conjunctival smear culture
• bacteriological study of the detachable eyelid
• eye biomicroscopy
• biopsy with histological examination of tissue
• Microscopic examination of eyelashes for demodicosis.

Treatment

Treatment of inflammatory diseases of the eyelids is carried out in accordance with their cause. Depending on the pathology, therapy includes:

Sign up for an initial consultation with an ophthalmologist at the Optic Center clinic by calling 8-800-775-78-58.

What to do if barley jumped on the eye

What is barley and where does it come from

Barley is an inflammation on the mucous membrane of the eyelid, which resembles a grain of grain in shape.There may be several such grains on one or even two eyes, but most often one seal appears.

Sometimes the induration is accompanied by other symptoms of inflammation:

1. Reddened eyes.
2. Tearing.
3. Itching.
4. Photophobia.
5. Feeling of a speck in the eye.

Barley appears both on the outside of the eyelid (then it looks like a seal, sometimes it is noticeable that it is filled with purulent contents), and on the inside (this, as a rule, hurts less).

Barley on the outside of the eyelid

And on the inside

Staphylococci are to blame for the appearance of barley. These bacteria are widespread and live on everyone’s skin. Most of them behave peacefully, but sometimes staphylococcus aureus activates and causes purulent diseases. For example, this happens with blepharitis, conjunctivitis or weakened immunity. Staphylococcus aureus attacks the exhausted body, and barley is formed – a sac, inside which bacteria and protective cells accumulate, living and dead.

Barley on the eye appears when staphylococcus aureus enters:

1. Eyelash follicle – the pouch where the hair follicle is located.
2. The sebaceous gland of this bulb.
3. The apocrine gland, which also opens into the follicle.
4. Meibomian gland, which is located on the inner side of the eyelid and secretes a secret that protects the mucous membrane from drying out.

Why barley is dangerous

This is a fairly simple disease, complications from it are rare.Sometimes a cyst can form due to a blockage in the meibomian glands. If it does not interfere, then nothing is done with it (except for the same compresses), and if it interferes, they remove it (only doctors do this).

A more serious complication is the spread of inflammation to the skin around the eyes. It is treated with antibiotics.

How to quickly cure barley

Most often, barley passes by itself ^{, without treatment, in 7-10 days. And if the bag bursts, it heals quickly.}

You can speed up the process with warm compresses: moisten a soft, clean cloth with warm water and apply to the eyelid for 5-10 minutes, massage a little.

The temperature should be comfortable so as not to burn yourself. Compresses can be done for several days in a row. The heat will either dissolve the seal or break.

This does not mean that you need to try to remove pus from closed barley by any means: if the inflammation does not want to open up, then it is not necessary. You can’t put pressure on the barley.

If the seal is too large and painful, increases in size and turns red, if the barley has not disappeared after two weeks, see your doctor.

This barley should be shown to the doctor

If the barley hurts, you can take a regular pain reliever, for example, based on paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Although barley on the eye is a bacterial disease, antibiotics are not very effective in treating it ^{, it is better to rely on time. Antimicrobial ointments are needed only when barley has arisen against the background of other eyelid diseases or when no improvement is seen after a few days.}

How to treat barley with home remedies

We have already said about the best folk remedy: this is a simple compress.If you really want to add something else to your home treatment, this compress can be done with a decoction of chamomile or calendula, but only if you are not allergic.

It is impossible to apply garlic or smear barley with greenery: the risk of burning the mucous membrane is too high with the minimum possible effect. Moreover, one should not spit in the eye, so as not to bring a couple of dozen different bacteria from the oral cavity to the company to staphylococci.

How to care for your eyes when barley appears

1. Gently flush your eyes with a cotton pad from the outer corner to the inner corner.One eye – one disc.
2. Use baby shampoo (non-irritating to the eyes) or products for sensitive skin.
3. If you wear contact lenses, discard them and, until the barley passes, switch to glasses.
4. Do not use makeup for the eyelids, even if you really want to cover up the barley. Just be patient, it will pass. And change all the brushes and applicators for eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara.

What to do to keep the barley from coming back

The easiest way to get an infection in your eyes is with dirty hands, so wash your hands more often, especially if you have a habit of rubbing your eyelids.This is rule number one, but there are a few other tips for prevention:

1. Always practice good hygiene when wearing lenses.
2. Remove makeup before bed.
3. Use quality cosmetics with an unexpired shelf life.
4. Treat inflammatory eye diseases in time.

How to treat barley on the eye

At least every second inhabitant of the planet at least once in his life has encountered such an unpleasant eye disease as hordeolum or, in a simple way, barley.Age in such cases does not matter, as well as lifestyle or social status – an acute inflammatory process of the eyelid margin caused by staphylococcus begins suddenly and often does not show obvious symptoms before.

Big Medical Encyclopedia defines this disease as

BARLEY (bordeolum) – acute purulent inflammation of the hair follicle of the eyelash or sebaceous (meibomian) gland of the eyelid.

BME

Barley, as you know, is not contagious, but very unpredictable.It can appear on the upper eyelid, on the lower, on one eye, and maybe on both at once.

Treatment of the disease is quite simple and with the right strategy does not take much time – on average, the disease is eliminated in one week. It is not recommended to self-medicate in such cases, since there are enough subtleties in this matter that only a doctor can know about.

Causes of the appearance of barley on the eye

As for the factors provoking the onset of the disease, most often these are:

• cold or hypothermia;
• weakened immunity;
• diabetes mellitus;
• infections.

In particular, for example, Dr. Komarovsky writes that “In almost 100% of cases, the only microbe that can cause barley and boils is Staphylococcus aureus”

Outer barley is accompanied by redness and slight swelling of the eyelid. Photo: Pixbay.com

Types, signs and symptoms of barley

There are two types of eye barley. External and internal, which is also called meibomite.

Outdoor barley

In this case, we mean inflammation of the hair follicle at the root of the eyelashes.It is accompanied by redness and slight swelling of the eyelid, which “matures” over several days, after which pus appears inside it. On days 3-4, the head of barley opens spontaneously, pus is released. At the same time, painful sensations begin to gradually subside.

Indoor barley

In the case when internal barley is diagnosed, it is an inflammation of the cartilage around the meibomian glands in the thickness of the eyelid. This type of disease, in contrast to the first, can be considered complicated, since after the completion of treatment, small scars may remain in its place.But this practice is not widespread, there are exceptions.

The disease manifests itself on the inner surface of the eyelid, after 2-3 days from the beginning, a purulent head is formed, which on the 3-4th day is opened from the side of the conjunctiva (the connective membrane covering the eye outside and the posterior surface of the eyelids).

Single and multiple barley are also distinguished. Moreover, the second case, as a rule, can be easily recognized: it is characterized by general malaise and an increase in temperature. You should not hesitate in such situations, you need to seek medical help in order to cure the barley and prevent the development of complications.

Home treatment of barley

As we have already said, when barley appears, do not hesitate to visit an ophthalmologist. And until the meeting with the doctor has taken place, you can use some of the methods of traditional medicine to improve the general condition and appearance.

For example, after the first symptoms appear , dry heat can be applied for a faster maturation of the abscess (infiltrate). Dry compresses will also help in the early stages.For the base, you can use an egg or table salt. Be careful not to overdo it to avoid scalding, wrap the egg or salt in a clean handkerchief. You can repeat the procedure no more than 4 times a day and strictly until ripening, after which it must be abandoned.

At the stage of formation of the abscess , you can use compresses with garlic (fresh or boiled). Cut the garlic in half and apply to the inflamed eyelid for 8-12 minutes. Be careful not to get the juice of the garlic in your eye.Garlic can be replaced with aloe, in this case soak a clean handkerchief or tissue with aloe juice and apply to the eyelid.

No matter how your story of self-control of barley in the eye ends, remember – if you follow the doctor’s recommendations, the treatment of the disease will go much faster.

What not to do with barley

The main thing is not to try to squeeze out the barley – by spreading the contents to the nearest areas, this will only aggravate the course of the disease.

You should not use such popular means as a solution of calendula and ethyl alcohol to wipe your eyes, and you should also refrain from tea lotions.Firstly, in the case of barley, they are not effective, and secondly, they can provoke the spread of infection.

Medicines

Medicines are prescribed by a doctor, usually drops and ointments. In some cases, antibiotics are prescribed.

Barley Ointment:

• Hydrocartizone ointment. An effective product applied to the sore eyelid. May cause overdose. Also, the use of the ointment is contraindicated in women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, patients with glaucoma and persons prone to increased eye pressure.
• Tetracycline ointment. Applied to the inflammation itself, it must be applied at least five times a day. A popular remedy, but not suitable for children under 12 years of age.
• Erythromycin ointment b. The treatment is carried out for 14 days, smeared directly on the inflamed eyelid three times a day. The ointment is not recommended for those suffering from renal insufficiency and allergy sufferers.

Drops from barley:

• Tsipromed. Suppresses inflammation, stops bacterial infection.In case of discomfort, itching and burning, the use of the drug should be stopped immediately.
• Albucid . The drug is applied one drop 3 times a day. As a result of the application, bacteria are neutralized and the inflammatory process stops.

Tsipromed and Albucid are the most popular types of drops that are prescribed for barley manifestations.

Be careful! Before using the drugs, carefully read the instructions, familiarize yourself with the dosage and all contraindications.

Chronic barley

If barley is not treated carefully and treatment is neglected, complications will be difficult to avoid. One of them concerns just the chronic form of inflammation of the cartilage of the eyelid, which, although rare, does take place.

This refers to the internal form of barley, meibomite, which, unlike the external one, quite often flows into a chronic form. It looks like a small pea on the upper or lower eyelid.At the same time, the eye becomes red, in the corners every now and then the excess of the fatty secretion of the meibomian glands is collected. If you periodically develop barley and have complications, then you need to see a doctor to identify the causative agent of the disease.

Types of complications and their symptoms

But barley is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance and, like any disease, can cause a number of complications.

So, if you have redness, itching, pain when rolling the eye and there is a constant release of tear fluid – think about it, because these are the first signals indicating that the barley is running in a neglected form.But these are rather aesthetic manifestations of a neglected disease.

In fact, you can face complications such as phlegmon of the orbit, chalazion and even brain abscess (extremely rare).

• Orbital cellulitis is a disease in which visual acuity decreases, and the eyeball loses mobility. May occur if the barley is pierced. In this case, pus may reappear, and the infection may go deeper into the body, which is why there is a high probability of getting inflammation of the orbital tissue.
• Chalazion is considered the most common complication (chronic form of meibonite). It is easy to recognize: it usually appears on the inside of the eyelid as a small, round seal. There is plenty of discomfort from chalazion, as well as additional expenses – such formations are removed with a laser.
• Abscess (purulent inflammation) of the brain, as we have already said, is a rare consequence of barley. It can occur when pus enters the eye, which can happen when the disease is completely ignored.
• Orbital thrombophlebitis . This acute inflammatory process takes place in the veins. It is provoked by a purulent inflammatory focus of the eyelids as well. With thrombophlebitis, several large abscesses may appear, and the process itself is accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the area of ​​the eyeball and swelling of the eyelids.

If you wear glasses, then it is better to refuse them until complete recovery, giving preference to contact lenses. Women are not advised to wear decorative cosmetics in order not to further irritate the eyes.Those who like to take a steam bath are also better off forgetting about this hobby until complete recovery.

Barley in a child

Barley in children most often appears due to non-compliance with hygiene rules. So, it can appear if the child rubbed his eyes with dirty hands. A harmless speck in the eye can also provoke the appearance of barley, as well as dust flying everywhere. In addition, a child can catch an infection using someone else’s towel or handkerchief, or if hypothermia occurs.

Please note that the popular tetracycline ointment is only suitable for treating barley for children over 12 years of age.

A disease can also indicate an underlying health problem. These include reduced immunity, impaired functioning of the stomach or intestines, worms, lack of vitamins, genetic predisposition, and even the possible development of diabetes mellitus.

Since barley is an infectious disease, it is worth paying special attention to clean hands. Photo source: pixabay.com

In order to minimize any consequences, it will not be superfluous to consult a doctor at the beginning of the inflammatory process. In addition, at the stages of inception, when the barley is not yet “ripe”, you can cauterize it with iodine, brilliant green or medical alcohol, and for the early appearance of an abscess, a warming compress will help. But keep in mind: the compresses must be stopped when the abscess begins to form.

The editors of the portal warns: all information is for reference only, if you are faced with manifestations of the disease, consult a doctor!

90,000 Not in the eyebrow, but in the eye: what is the danger of barley and how to treat it

It also “ripens”

– Irina Alekseevna, so what kind of disease is this – barley on the eye?

– It would be more correct to say, not on the eye, but on the eyelid of the eye.This is an acute purulent inflammation of the hair follicle of the eyelash, or sebaceous gland, which is located near the bulb. Barley on the outer surface of the eyelid is called external, on the inner surface of the eyelid – internal.

– What are the symptoms?

– This is pain, redness and swelling of the eyelid. The eye can be very watery, there is a feeling of a foreign body in it. With external barley, a yellow abscess appears on the 3-4th day close to the edge of the eyelid. If the barley is internal, then redness with a yellow spot can be seen on the inner surface of the eyelid.The skin surrounding the site of the swelling looks inflamed. By the way, internal barley develops more slowly, but it is more painful than external barley. Severe infection can even cause an increase in body temperature up to 38 degrees, nausea, headache and other signs of general intoxication of the body. Barley fully ripens in 3–7 days. After the release of purulent contents, the edema subsides, and the soreness goes away.

Tea ceremony won’t hurt

– My late grandmother spoke to barley: what – then whispered, spat over shoulder, and the barley did not appear.Are there scientific ways to prevent this disease?

– In the very early stages, barley can indeed be stopped. To do this, three to five times a day, you need to carefully cauterize the painful tubercle with a solution of brilliant green or an alcohol solution. But if the inflammatory process has actively started, it is most reasonable to consult an ophthalmologist.

– Can’t you go without a doctor?

– Medical advice is desirable. The fact is that barley is an insidious disease that can provoke the development of serious complications.For the same reason, in no case should you squeeze out and pierce the barley with a needle. This is extremely dangerous! The eye is directly connected to the brain and blood vessels. Infection can spread to nearby tissues, leading to serious problems. The doctor will examine you, to determine the nature of the pathogen, he will prescribe a laboratory study of the contents of the pathological focus. After all, the cause of the disease can be not only staphylococcus and weakened immunity, but also worms, as well as the presence of a demodex mite on the eyelashes.The doctor will prescribe the necessary physiotherapy, UHF therapy – if there is no temperature, he will recommend medications. As a rule, these are anti-inflammatory ointments and / or antibacterial drugs for instillation in the eye and ingestion. With the development of internal barley, multiple abscesses or large barley, surgical treatment is indicated (opening and drainage of the pathological cavity).

– Can you use folk remedies?

– They can be used to relieve symptoms.At the initial stage of the disease, you can warm up the sore spot with a hard-boiled egg. Without cooling or cleaning it, put it in a clean cloth and apply to the eye until it cools completely. But remember: under no circumstances should you heat an already formed abscess! This can contribute to the breakthrough of ripe barley pus not outward, but in the opposite direction and, accordingly, the development of sepsis. Herbalists recommend using chamomile, known for its aseptic properties, to quickly eliminate maturing barley.

– How to use chamomile?

– Pour a tablespoon with boiling water, leave for half an hour, strain, soak a cotton pad in the infusion and apply to the affected area. A good effect is given by lotions from black tea, infusion from birch buds. But I must note that traditional methods in the treatment of barley on the eye are only auxiliary. The use of antibiotics is of paramount importance.

And there is sugar

– Why does barley appear at all?

– The main culprit in barley is usually Staphylococcus aureus – about 95% of all cases of the disease are associated with it.Staphylococcal infection is almost always present on the surface of the human skin, but if the immune system is strong enough, it does not spread into the body. If the immune system is weakened, staphylococcal infection manifests itself, as they say, in all its glory. And stress, hypothermia, lack of vitamins, the presence of various diseases, especially infectious ones, can weaken the immune system. If a person adheres to the rules of personal hygiene and does not touch his eyes and face with dirty hands, the introduction of Staphylococcus aureus is minimized.

– For some, barley occurs once or twice in a lifetime, while for others it occurs regularly. Why?

– I’ll tell you more – in some cases, a person can have several barley at the same time and even in both eyes. In this case, it is imperative to see an endocrinologist and do a blood sugar test. Frequent barley may indicate the development of diabetes mellitus, as well as diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or some other systemic and chronic diseases.

– What should not be done with this disease?

– It is categorically forbidden to scratch your eyes with dirty hands, wear contact lenses, use cosmetics, cover a sore eye with a plaster. During illness, do not forget about personal hygiene – use separate dishes and dry your face with an individual towel so as not to infect household members. It is also recommended to drink a course of vitamins and not to overcool, especially in summer under air conditioners. After about a week, as the barley opens, remove the pus with a sterile cotton swab, and then treat the wound with an antiseptic, brilliant green, alcohol solution.It is not worth applying a bandage and covering the wound with a bactericidal plaster.

– Are there any – then measures prevention, thanks to which can forever forget about barley on eye?

– Of course. First of all, this is strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene, good nutrition, hardening of the body and treatment of all chronic diseases.And besides, compliance with the rules for the selection and use of contact lenses and – especially for women – refusal to use cosmetics that have expired. As you can see, nothing complicated. And be healthy!

👍 How to treat barley? | Answers to your questions

Barley on the eye often becomes a real problem. It is worth getting rid of it in order to be beautiful and healthy.

We will tell you how to cure barley at home. You will learn how to treat barley in the upper and lower eyelids with folk remedies and traditional medicine.In addition, we will reveal to you the secret of how to prevent the appearance of barley.

Barley on the eye

According to the scientific definition, barley is an inflammatory process of the hair follicle or sebaceous glands, which are located at the edge of the eye. Within a few days, the inflamed area swells a little and begins to ache. After that, a purulent head appears, exactly the same as in a regular pimple. When the barley “ripens” its head can break through, and pus will begin to appear from it.With good immunity in humans, barley will surely pass soon.

Barley on the eye – inflammatory disease

Worse if the immune system is weakened. In this case, several barley may appear on the eyes at the same time. In addition to the fact that it disrupts the aesthetics of the face, such barley causes serious damage to the human immune system. Therefore, as soon as you feel a burning sensation in the eye, take measures to get rid of barley.

When you have just felt the appearance of barley, you can try to cauterize it.However, you need to make sure that the agent with which you begin to cauterize the site of inflammation does not get into your eyes. So, it is quite possible to cauterize barley with ordinary alcohol, and iodine or a solution of brilliant green is also suitable. To avoid getting the product in your eyes, it is better to cover them altogether. It is best to apply the cauterizing agent with a cotton pad. Holding a cotton pad with a cauterizing agent for fifteen minutes will help you stop the infection in your eye.

Thus, the appearance of barley on the eye is generally a consequence of weakened immunity.Therefore, after you get rid of the barley, do not forget to take care of strengthening the immune system. Try to diversify your diet, eat more cereals, as well as fruits containing vitamin C. This will help your body to resist infections and prevent the reappearance of barley.

What is barley on the eye?

This phenomenon is quite frequent, which indicates a weak immunity. May coincide with or precede a cold. It can be treated at home, and it usually goes away in 4 days, but if you often get barley in your eye, then you should see a doctor.

How to treat barley at home?

If barley appears on the eye, do not postpone its treatment. The basic rule: never squeeze it out. This can cause yourself very serious harm. It is important to relieve inflammation, to cleanse the ducts, and not to squeeze out pustules.

Barley can be removed with decoctions

Thus, the most proven way to get rid of barley is to leave it alone. The body will cope with it on its own. Another question is how long will it take?

If you don’t want to wait, take action.So, calendula is a popular method of fighting barley. You can buy it at any pharmacy. We brew calendula with boiling water, then wipe the eyes with the resulting solution every couple of hours.

You can take 4-6 bay leaves and brew it with a third cup of boiling water. Wait for the infusion to cool slightly and drink it.

You can cure barley with a hot egg. Wrap the freshly boiled egg in a clean cloth so as not to burn yourself, and attach it to the eye. Keep it until the egg has cooled.

How to treat barley in the eye at home?

In addition, you can wipe your eyes with eyebright infusion or bury eyebright drops in your eyes. This remedy is also good for the appearance of barley.

If pus has accumulated, wipe the area with a piece of garlic. This will help the excess pus to come out, and the barley will soon disappear. Just be careful, garlic oil can cause irritation. You can also apply tea bag lotions or baked onions to the sore eye.

To get rid of barley as soon as possible, monitor your diet.Try to fill it with vitamins. So, several times a day eat 6-8 pieces of fresh tansy flowers with water.

And you can also dilute aloe juice at the rate of 1 to 10 and wipe the inflamed area with this infusion.

Another proven folk method is tea made from “big” burdock. You need to drink it several times during the day.

We have already said that the easiest way is to leave the barley so that the body can cope with its appearance on its own.You can also take vitamins in parallel, as well as consume lemon, oranges, kiwi and other foods containing vitamin C.

Traditional medicine in the fight against barley: vitamin drink to enhance immunity

In addition, during the treatment of barley, you will have to give up cosmetics. Of course, this is a very difficult test for a girl, but the beauty is worth it. In any case, it is better to keep the site of inflammation clean.

How to cure barley quickly?

If you trust traditional medicine more and want to quickly get rid of barley, then you should resort to drugs developed by leading companies.First of all, it is worth consulting with a doctor who will advise you on the complex: he will prescribe not only drops for inflammation, but also to strengthen the immune system.

So, to get rid of barley on the eye, instill albucid into the eye about 5-6 times a day (one or two drops in each eye).