NITASHA GUPTA, MD
BOARD-CERTIFIED OPHTHALMOLOGIST AND EYE SURGEON
STYE & CHALAZION
Styes are bumps that occur on the edge of the eyelids. Usually it is blocked oil gland (like a pimple) on your eyelid. Sometimes, however, it can be a bacterial infection that may require antibiotics. Styes and chalazions are very common and usually resolve with time and minor treatments.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
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Bump, often painful, along the edge of the upper or lower eyelid near the base of the eyelashes
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Swelling of the eyelid
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Crusting along the eyelid
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Sensitivity to bright light
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Sore, scratchy eye
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Tearing of the eye
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A feeling that there is something in the eye
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Usually your vision is unchanged, but occasionally it can feel blurry or as though you are looking through a film
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS?
You may be prone to styes if you:
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Have had a stye before
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Have blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids)
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Have certain skin conditions, such as acne rosacea or seborrheic dermatitits
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Have diabetes
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Have dry skin
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Are experiencing hormonal changes
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Have high lipid levels (“bad” cholesterol)
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT?
Most styes resolve on their own with self-care:
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Warm compresses for 10-15minutes, 3-5x/day
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Keep the eyelid/eyelash area clean with baby shampoo or eye lid wipes.​
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DO NOT: squeeze or pop a stye
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If you do not see some improvement in 48 hours, you may need additional treatment:
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Antibiotic/steroid ointment or eye drops
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Occasionally, oral antibiotic pills
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Steroid injection directly into the stye
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Incision to drain the stye (done by an eyelid specialist)
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For multiple or recurrent styes, consider TearCare®
TEAR CARE®
