How to Recognize and Treat a Stye

Dry eye is a general term with many root causes. More specifically it could be caused by
meibomian gland dysfunction, ocular rosacea and blepharitis. All of these specific diagnoses
can lead to styes if left untreated.

Styes and chalazions can be very frustrating but can be prevented and improved with
certain treatments. If you experience recurrent styes, it may be best to address the dry eye
disease more thoroughly to improve the overall comfort and health of your eyes.

What is the Difference Between Stye and Chalazion?

Although these labels can be used interchangeably, there are a few key differences
between the specific diagnoses. 

There are meibomian glands that span across our upper and lower eyelids. These are oil
glands that secrete oil into the tear film and allow proper lubrication of the eyes. These glands
can become infected and clogged and present as a firm, red swollen bump.

A stye is caused by a bacterial infection in the meibomian glands. It is typically acute,
red and painful while a chalazion is a painless blocked oil gland that becomes inflamed scar
tissue overtime. A chalazion usually appears as a hard lump on the eyelid that can persist for
weeks to months.

What Not to Do While Experiencing a Stye

While it may be tempting to pop the bump, we highly discourage doing this. It is unlikely
to improve with this method and could spread the infection. It can also cause local tissue
damage and worsened swelling.

Also avoid wearing contact lenses during this time and wear glasses instead to reduce
the risk of spreading or worsening the infection. As good practice, it’s a good idea to give your
eyes a break from contact lenses and wear glasses from time to time as well.

It is also recommended to avoid using eye makeup during this time to prevent spreading
the infection and contaminating your eye makeup. Oftentimes styes can result from sharing eye
makeup with friends or family as well, so it’s important to be wary of that. 

Once your stye resolves and you resume makeup wear, do not use waterproof mascara
or tightline your waterline with eyeliner. Wearing eyeliner on your waterline can lead to clogging
the meibomian glands and lead to future styes. 

Also do not sleep with makeup on. Be mindful of removing your makeup thoroughly
before going to bed to practice good eyelid hygiene. It is recommended to wash your makeup
brushes regularly and you should replace your mascara and eyeliner every 3 months. However,
if you accidentally use mascara, eyeliner or eyeshadow during an active stye, it is important to
toss it immediately.

Lastly, do not ignore a stye or chalazion if it’s large or does not go away. A stye can
worsen into preseptal cellulitis or occasionally obscure your vision due to the bump pressing on
your eye. Rarely, a certain eyelid cancer may present similarly to a chalazion so it is vital to
have it evaluated by your optometrist or ophthalmologist if it persists.

How to Get Rid of a Stye

When you notice your eyelid is becoming tender with a localized bump, it is best to treat
it right away! Since a stye typically occurs due to a blocked, infected oil gland, using heat can
help drain it. A proper warm compress, such as a Bruder mask, has controlled heat that can
help clear clogged oil within the meibomian gland. It is recommended to use the warm
compress for 5-10 minutes about 3 times a day to reduce the size of the bump.

You are also more likely to develop styes if you suffer from blepharitis, which is bacterial
overgrowth on the eyelashes. Since bacterial overgrowth can be a contributing cause to the
infection, your doctor may start you on lid hygiene products. These can include eyelid wipes,
foam or hypochlorous acid sprays. Typically, your eye doctor will also prescribe a course of
topical or oral antibiotics to help clear the infection. 

If a stye is not improving for a few weeks or several months the bump that persists is
now a chalazion. Treatment with Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is a great option as it can
help reduce the size of the bump and the lingering inflammation. This light therapy provides
anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-metabolic properties. The light energy travels to the
meibomian gland and helps to soften the lesion and unclog the oil gland. It also treats the
underlying condition, such as meibomian gland dysfunction and ocular rosacea. You may need
a few sessions of IPL to completely clear the chalazion.

If IPL is not an option, a steroid injection or excision of the chalazion can also be done
by an ophthalmologist. A steroid injection can help reduce the size of the inflammatory granular
tissue. Chalazion surgery or excision can also be performed under local anesthesia. A small
incision is made within the eyelid that allows the doctor to drain the contents within the cyst. 

Although a stye or chalazion can be distressing due to its obvious presentation, it
typically improves with time. It’s best to start treatment as soon as possible for the best results.