Say Goodbye to Styes with Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy in West Chester, Ohio

What is that bump on my eyelid? These bumps are referred to as styes, but they are actually either a hordeolum or chalazion.
What exactly is the difference between the two?

A hordeolum is an acute bacterial infection of an oil gland, or Meibomian Gland, that lines your eyelid. Symptoms of a hordeolum include; swelling, redness, and pain/tenderness to the touch. First line treatment usually involves warm compresses/massage and an oral antibiotic. Sometimes a topical antibiotic will be prescribed if the hordeolum is located right along the eyelid margin versus deep into the tissue.

A chalazion is a red bump that forms inside the eyelid due to a blockage of a Meibomian Gland. This is an inflammatory process rather than an infection. A chalazion will not be painful and is usually farther back on the eyelid. If you palpate that area, you will be able to feel a small nodule inside your lid. Some patients will have blurred vision if the chalazion is larger and presses on the eyeball. Traditionally, first line treatments include warm compresses/massage, oral doxycycline (for its’ inflammatory properties), or topical antibiotic/steroid medications. When those treatments don’t work, often a referral for incision and drainage or steroid injections is necessary. That is not the case anymore!