Knowing how to distinguish a chalazion from a stye is essential to determine the cause of this eyelid condition, and thus avoid triggering factors. This distinction also makes it possible to put in place the right measures to relieve symptoms, reduce inflammation and prevent recurrences.
1. How to differentiate a stye from a chalazion?
Chalazions and styes are manifested by the appearance of a red and swollen pimple on the eyelid or on its edge. Differences make it possible to identify whether it is one or the other (“Chalazion/Orgelet”, published by the Quebec university hospital center and “What Is the Difference Between a Stye and a Chalazion?” Causes, Symptoms, Treatment” published by theAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology):
- The stye is characterized by the presence of a kind of “crust” at the edge of the eyelid, and the impression of having something in the eye. It takes the form of a “soft” button. It causes itching, pain, hypersensitivity to light, and usually resolves on its own after three days.
- A chalazion sometimes only manifests as a hard pimple on the eyelid, with no other symptoms. It develops much more slowly and gradually than the stye, until it takes several months to really appear. However, in some cases, the chalazion is accompanied by blurred vision if it is large, or swelling all around the eye. It takes several weeks to disappear.
2. The causes of styes and chalazions
Chalazions and styes differ not only in their symptoms, but also in their causes (“Chalazion and stye”, published by the MSD Manual):
- The most common cause of chalazion is a blockage in a sebaceous gland located at the base of the eyelashes (the Meibomian glands). These glands keep the eye constantly moist. Other common causes of chalazion are blepharitis (an inflammation of the eyelids, which can have various causes), rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, tuberculosis, viral infection.
- The origin of the stye is most often bacterial. Depending on whether it is internal or external, the stye is caused by a different cause. Thus, an external stye (located at the base of the eyelashes) is most often the consequence of an infection in the hair follicle of an eyelash. An internal stye (located inside the eyelid) is most commonly caused by an infection in a meibomian gland. Blepharitis can also cause a stye.
What complicates the differentiation between chalazion and stye is that a stye can turn into a chalazion without proper treatment. In addition, suffering from diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and other diseases promotes the risk of developing chalazions or styes.
3. Relieve symptoms of chalazions and styes
The first measures in the presence of a chalazion or a stye are as follows:
- do not try to pierce and squeeze the stye or chalazion to squeeze out the pus;
- do not scratch, avoid rubbing the inflamed area;
- do not wear your contact lenses;
- do not make up your eyes.
The treatments implemented to treat a stye or a chalazion are relatively similar, but their effectiveness varies according to the type of pimple on the eyelid (“Chalazion”, published by theAmerican Optometric Association and “Stye”, published by the Cleveland Clinic). In general, whether the patient has a stye or a chalazion, the general practitioner or ophthalmologist prescribes the following treatments, alone or in combination:
- Antibiotics — however, these are only effective in treating an infected stye, not a chalazion.
- The application of sterile compresses moistened with hot water or physiological saline. These applications, if renewed several times a day (3 to 6 times, for 10 to 15 minutes each time), accelerate healing. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling the compress. Discard the used compress, do not reuse it.
- Washing the eyes and eyelids with single-dose physiological serum. This cleans the eyelids, and it helps treat a stye (but not a chalazion).
- Applying cortisone-based eye drops or ointments to the eyelid. This application reduces the inflammation caused by a chalazion.
- Drainage of the chalazion or stye by the doctor, if the pimple obstructs vision by its volume. Do not do it yourself at home, because you risk spreading the infection. If the chalazion or stye recur frequently, the ophthalmologist may send the removed tissue for analysis to understand the cause and rule out carcinoma of the sebaceous glands (a type of cancer).
Sources:
Quebec University Hospital Center, American Academy of Ophthalmology, MSD Manual, American Optometric Association, Cleveland Clinic
Read also :
⋙ Eye infection: the different symptoms to recognize and how to react
⋙ Stroke of the eye: causes, symptoms, treatments
⋙ Floaters in the eye: what are the causes and how to get rid of them?