What is a Chalazion/Stye?

A chalazion, also called a stye, is an inflammatory swelling from a blocked oil gland on your eyelid. These oil glands are responsible for producing the oil that lubricates the surface of your eye. Although they are very annoying and not visually appealing, the good news is that most chalazia clear within a few weeks. However, every now and then you may come across some that want to stay with you a little longer. There are several treatment options available depending on the severity of your chalazion.

Home Treatment Options

If your chalazion just popped up recently, there are some things you can try at home. First and foremost, you want to make sure your eyelids are clean. There are several different lid cleansers available sold over-the-counter. You can try the individually packaged lid scrubs or the bottle with the cleansing soap. These are safe for your eyes. Baby shampoo is also another popular option to clean your eyelids because it won’t irritate your eyes either. Then you can get a warm compress on your eyes and gently massage your eyelids for five minutes. If you have tried these two things twice a day for a week or two and there is still no improvement on your chalazion, then you may consider some office treatments.

Office Treatment Options

Your doctor will evaluate your chalazion and decide what is the best treatment option for you taking the size and position into consideration. It may be injected with steroid, drained, or surgically excised.

Recommendations

To try to prevent a chalazion, it is highly recommended to maintain good eyelid hygiene and to do warm compresses regularly. Make sure you are using some sort of lid scrub or baby shampoo to clean your eyelids twice daily. Warm compresses can help prevent or express clogged oil glands. Also, make sure you are replacing your eye make up as it is marked on each product.

Other Treatments for Blepharitis and Clogged Oil Glands

While there are products sold over-the-counter to maintain proper eyelid hygiene, sometimes it is not enough. If you are someone who suffers from moderate to severe blepharitis, you may want to consider a Blephex Treatment, which professionally scrubs your eyelids clean. Also, if a warm compress with a washcloth is not working, you can purchase an eye mask.

If you have a chalazion and are not sure what to do about it, please contact our office to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Haas.