Eye Conditions / Chalazion or Stye

Chalazion or Stye

A lump or swelling on your eyelid? A stye is usually a tender, painful lump near an eyelash or within the eyelid; a chalazion is more often a firm, less painful lump caused by a blocked oil gland. Many improve with simple care — but a persistent, recurrent or unusually painful lump should be examined, so the cause is confirmed and the next step is clear.

Book a consultation What is it? →
Common symptoms

Not every eyelid lump needs the same treatment

A stye tends to be tender and painful at the lash line; a chalazion is usually firmer and less painful. Most settle with simple care.

A small red or swollen lump at the eyelid edge, or within the lid

Tenderness or pain, especially with a developing stye

A yellow point or discharge near an eyelash

A firm, round and usually less painful lump — more typical of a chalazion

A watery, irritated or heavy-feeling eyelid

Mild swelling around the eye while the vision remains normal

What is it

Stye or chalazion — what is the difference?

Both appear as a lump on the eyelid, and a stye can sometimes leave behind a firmer chalazion — but they start differently, feel different and settle differently.

Illustration of a stye: an infected gland at the eyelid margin, near the eyelashes

Stye

A localised infection or inflammation of an eyelash follicle or eyelid gland, at the lash line.

  • Red, tender and often painful
  • Often develops a yellow point near an eyelash
  • Commonly settles over several days or weeks
Illustration of a chalazion: a blocked oil gland forming a lump deeper within the eyelid

Chalazion

A blocked meibomian (oil) gland, forming a firm lump deeper within the eyelid.

  • Firm and rounder — often painless once the inflammation settles
  • May follow a stye, or come with blepharitis or MGD
  • Can remain for weeks or longer

Painful and tender suggests a stye; hard and painless suggests a chalazion. Long-term blepharitis and some skin conditions make both more likely.

The appearance alone cannot always confirm the diagnosis.

Both can cause eyelid swelling and redness, and a stye can develop into a firmer residual lump. A swollen, watery or red eye without a distinct lump may instead be blepharitis, conjunctivitis or another condition — a careful examination settles it.

Book a consultation How we work
Home care

What you can do at home

For a small, uncomplicated stye or chalazion, a warm compress may help soften blocked material and encourage natural drainage. Avoid eye make-up and contact lenses until the eyelid has healed, keep your hands, face and eyelid margins clean, and do not share towels or flannels.

Clean hands and a clean flannel — comfortably warm water, never hot

Five to ten minutes on the closed eyelid, two to four times a day

Never squeeze or burst the lump, pull out an eyelash, or press on the eyeball

A note on medication

Do not start leftover antibiotic or steroid eye medication without professional advice. The right treatment depends on whether the problem is a stye, chalazion, blepharitis or another condition.

When to book

When should you arrange an assessment?

The lump is not improving after a few weeks

A chalazion stays large, uncomfortable or repeatedly returns

The lump keeps recurring in the same place, or looks unusual

You have ongoing blepharitis, rosacea or other eyelid inflammation

Come in whenever you are unsure whether it is a stye, a chalazion or another eyelid problem — an examination settles the question.
Book a consultation
How we approach it

Look carefully. Explain clearly.

Your ophthalmologist asks when the lump started, whether it is painful and whether it has happened before, then examines the eyelid, the eyelash roots, the conjunctiva and the eye itself.

A vision check, and a look for spreading infection or another cause of redness

Associated blepharitis, meibomian-gland dysfunction or rosacea kept in mind

A clear recommendation: observation, home care, medication, a minor procedure or further review

Usually diagnosed clinically

Most straightforward eyelid lumps can be diagnosed on examination. Further assessment may be recommended when a lump is persistent, recurrent, atypical or not responding as expected.

Time, warmth and the right plan

Treatment and recovery

Styes and chalazia often improve with warm compresses, eyelid care and time. If a stye is infected or the infection is spreading, a doctor may consider medication or another treatment. If lumps keep returning, addressing underlying blepharitis, meibomian-gland dysfunction or skin inflammation may help reduce recurrence.

Warm compresses, eyelid care and observation for most lumps

Medication when a stye is infected, or infection is spreading

Additional assessment for a persistent or unusual lesion

If a chalazion will not settle

A large or persistent chalazion can be drained under local anaesthetic — a procedure of only a few minutes, considered after examination and not necessary for every lump.

Meet your specialist

Care led by specialists you'll meet in person.

Dr. JD Ferwerda
Lead Ophthalmologist · Cataract and Retina Surgeon

Dr. JD Ferwerda, MD

Dr. JD Ferwerda, MD: Dutch-trained ophthalmologist specialising in cataracts, lens exchange, retinal disease, glaucoma, and AMD.

Book with Dr. JD See profile →
Dr. Artem Kozhechenkov
Refractive Surgeon

Dr. Artem Kozhechenkov, MD

Russian-trained refractive and general ophthalmologist, leads lasik/ laser vision correction at EEC

Book with Dr. Artem See profile →

Not sure whether it is a stye or a chalazion?

+84 (0) 28 2253 3574
Call Zalo
Book a consultation