Styes and Chalazia
Why do we ask?
Styes are very common and it can sometimes be tricky to get rid of them.
Most styes are simply an inflamed blockage of a Meibomian gland. Sometimes they’re infected, and sometimes they’re just blocked and inflamed.
If you have a lump on your eyelid and it’s tender in that spot when you blink, chances are high that you have a stye.
Sometimes a stye will be infected, usually with normal (staph) skin bacteria, and sometimes they respond to antibiotic drops or ointment. There is some doubt that the antibiotics can actually reach the infected area.
The very best treatment for a stye is HEAT, HEAT and MORE HEAT.
Sometimes a stye will become rock-hard and pea-shaped. We call that a chalazion. Chalazia may still respond to heat treatment but they are more resistant to this than simple styes are.
If conservative (heat treatment) fails to work, secondary options are:
Referral to ophthalmology
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