Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to See a ProviderPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to See a Provider
Prevention
Understanding the differences between achalazionversus astyecan help you figure out which one you may have. A chalazion is a redbump on the eyelidthat develops when there is a blocked oil gland. A stye, orhordeolum, develops where your eyelashes start or under your eyelid.Bacterial infectionsusually cause styes.
This article will go over the differences between a chalazion and a stye, including the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
How Do You Tell If It’s a Chalazion or Stye?
Symptoms of a stye include:
Chalazion bumps are usually firmer than that from a stye. They usually grow slowly and may develop over a few months. Often, a chalazion can go away on its own within a few weeks.
Besides the hard bump, a chalazion may not cause symptoms. If it does, other symptoms of a chalazion include:
Stye vs. Chalazion vs. BlepharitisBlepharitis is inflammation of the eyelid. Unlike chalazions, blepharitis and styes develop because of bacteria. Both conditions can cause eyelid swelling and inflammation, but blepharitis tends to affect the entire eyelid while a stye is usually a single lump on the eyelid.
Stye vs. Chalazion vs. Blepharitis
Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelid. Unlike chalazions, blepharitis and styes develop because of bacteria. Both conditions can cause eyelid swelling and inflammation, but blepharitis tends to affect the entire eyelid while a stye is usually a single lump on the eyelid.
Blepharitis vs. Stye: What Are the Differences?
Chalazion vs. Stye Causes
Here are the different causes of chalazions and styes.
Chalazion Causes
Stye Causes
Most of the time, bacterial infections cause styes. There are two kinds of styes and they have different infection-linked causes:
Blepharitis can cause styes. Sometimes, a bump can start out as a stye and become a chalazion.
Having a chalazion or a stye is usually not serious and they do not always need treatment. However, if they bother you, consider making an appointment with a healthcare provider like an eye health specialist.
Chalazia and styes are diagnosed with anexamination of the eyelid area. During the exam, a provider will check:
A provider can use a bright light to get a closer look at the eyelids to help determine if it is a chalazion, stye, or something else (for example, a type of cancer calledbasal cell carcinoma).
A provider will also ask you about any other health conditions that you have, some of which could contribute to the development of a stye or chalazion.
Which is Worse: A Stye or Chalazion?A stye tends to be more painful and uncomfortable than a chalazion (which often does not cause symptoms).
Which is Worse: A Stye or Chalazion?
A stye tends to be more painful and uncomfortable than a chalazion (which often does not cause symptoms).
Chalazion vs. Stye Treatment
Thetreatments for a styeand a chalazion are similar, but not all treatments will work for both eye conditions. Treatments that may help you get rid of a chalazion or stye include the use of:
If your chalazion or stye keeps coming back, a provider may want to take a piece of tissue from it to look at in a lab (biopsy).This can help rule out a more serious problem likesebaceous gland carcinoma.
What to AvoidDo not squeeze or try to “pop” a stye or chalazion.Avoid rubbing the area.Do not wear contact lenses or eye makeup while you have a chalazion or stye.
What to Avoid
Do not squeeze or try to “pop” a stye or chalazion.Avoid rubbing the area.Do not wear contact lenses or eye makeup while you have a chalazion or stye.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
While styes and chalazions do not always need treatment, you should see a healthcare provider if:
If you’ve had one chalazion or stye, you’re more prone to getting them again. Here are a few things you can do to help prevent a chalazion or a stye:
Summary
You can try home treatments for a stye or chalazion and wait to see if they get better on their own. If the bump is causing pain, affects your vision, or keeps coming back, see an eye health provider for treatment. This could include antibiotics for a stye or steroid shots for a chalazion.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion?Carlisle RT, Digiovanni J.Differential diagnosis of the swollen red eyelid.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(2):106-112.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are chalazia and styes?American Optometric Association.Chalazion.Penn Medicine.Eyelid tumors.Raleigh Eye Center.When should I see a doctor for a stye?.Cleveland Clinic.Stye (sty).
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion?Carlisle RT, Digiovanni J.Differential diagnosis of the swollen red eyelid.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(2):106-112.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are chalazia and styes?American Optometric Association.Chalazion.Penn Medicine.Eyelid tumors.Raleigh Eye Center.When should I see a doctor for a stye?.Cleveland Clinic.Stye (sty).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion?Carlisle RT, Digiovanni J.Differential diagnosis of the swollen red eyelid.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(2):106-112.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are chalazia and styes?American Optometric Association.Chalazion.Penn Medicine.Eyelid tumors.Raleigh Eye Center.When should I see a doctor for a stye?.Cleveland Clinic.Stye (sty).
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion?
Carlisle RT, Digiovanni J.Differential diagnosis of the swollen red eyelid.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(2):106-112.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are chalazia and styes?
American Optometric Association.Chalazion.
Penn Medicine.Eyelid tumors.
Raleigh Eye Center.When should I see a doctor for a stye?.
Cleveland Clinic.Stye (sty).
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