Have you ever heard of a hordeolum? This is the medical term for a sty during its acute phase—when it is a red, swollen, painful bump on the upper or lower eyelid. What happens: The eyelid has glands that produce oils to help lubricate the eye. If a gland gets blocked, it cannot drain normally and a bacterial infection can develop. As the oily material leaks into the eyelid tissue, it triggers an inflammatory reaction. Often sties clear up within a week or so, either on their own or with the help of an antibiotic or steroid cream.
However, sometimes the body forms a hard capsule around the oil to contain it—so even after the inflammation subsides, a firm, painless, pink or flesh-colored bump remains. Called a chalazion, it poses no danger but can be unsightly and may linger for months or years.
To encourage a chalazion to go away, ophthalmologist Eric Berman, MD, a clinical associate professor at the University of South Florida, suggested taking the following steps three times a day for one week or until the problem resolves. First: Dampen a washcloth with plain water, heat it in the microwave for five to 10 seconds (be sure it’s not too hot), then hold the warm compress against your eye for five minutes. Next: Try to expel some of the trapped liquid by using your fingertips to massage the area, moving from the outside of the chalazion toward the lashes. Don’t squeeze! Just gently rub across the bump.
If self-treatment doesn’t work and the chalazion bothers you, or if it grows so large that it interferes with vision, Dr. Berman recommended having it lanced by an oculoplastic surgeon (an ophthalmologist trained in cosmetic surgery around the eye). This in-office procedure takes about five minutes. The only downsides are that the numbing injection that precedes the lancing feels like a bee sting, and some patients develop a black eye that lasts about a week. If a chalazion recurs, as sometimes happens, the procedure can be repeated.
